On the most recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcasts, Bill and his guest, Tim Legler, raved about Nikola Jokic’s recent run, as many in NBA media have been doing. But Simmons and Legs focused on an underappreciated and often overlooked aspect of his game: his incredible hands.
The podcaster and analyst discussed how his hands and touch may actually be his greatest trait, and how Jokic has some of the best hands of anyone to ever play the game. It’s evidenced by his soft touch around the rim and in the midrange, by his beautiful passes, often flicked with one hand in the blink of an eye.
It’s also evidenced by his ability to get his hands on the ball on the defensive end, tipping away passes, redirecting shots, and poking the ball away from opponents. It’s even evidenced on the glass, as he’s not the highest jumper, but he always manages to get just enough of the ball to tip it to himself or direct it to a teammate.
There are so many great parts of Jokic’s game to appreciate and dissect, but there’s something about the way he uses his hands that we’ve never seen before in the NBA. It’s an innate skill, and something that can’t even be taught, but Jokic just “has it”.
Jokic may have the best hands of any big man ever
Jokic controls the basketball like a much smaller, craftier player, almost manipulating it like a guard. But he doesn’t have to dominate the ball or pound it into the ground to create advantages.
He is intentional and decisive with the ball, and it often seems like he knows what he’s going to do with it before he even gets it. Sometimes the ball is in and out of his hands before you can even blink, because he has made such a quick decision and executed on his plan before the defense knows what’s happening.
In a way, it’s how Jokic makes up for a lack of conventional athleticism. He’s not dominating with his speed or his vertical jump, but he’s dominating all the same. His size helps, and his IQ and instincts help, but his hands are what set him apart.
We’ve seen some players try to replicate some of the things the Joker does on the court, and it usually ends in disaster. People need to take a page out of Legs and Bill’s book and make sure to appreciate what might actually be the skill that has put Jokic in rarified air.