Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has redefined the manner in which NBA teams are operating. Much as Stephen Curry expedited a three-point revolution that was years in the works, Jokic has guided the Association to the return of the big man.
ESPN has revealed the extent to which the Jokic-led revolution has impacted the NBA, as teams are loading up on size to counter the growing list of top-tier centers.
During a recent ESPN survey, 20 NBA coaches, executives, and scouts were asked to identify the biggest trend of the 2025 offseason. The No. 1 spot was expectedly filled by votes for teams looking to avoid second apron penalties.
The trend that came in at No. 2, however, was "teams prioritizing size" and leaving the myth that the center position isn't essential behind.
It's a development that many have fueled over the past decade, with big men across the NBA proving capable of influencing winning. The individual who has racked up the most accolades during that time, however, deserves much of the praise for the current trend.
Teams are undoubtedly preparing to counter the likes of Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Victor Wembanyama, as well, but Jokic deserves praise for proving centers can be MVPs and Finals MVPs again.
ESPN survey reveals teams prioritizing size is a major NBA trend again
Jokic has redefined what centers are capable of on the offensive end of the floor. He's an elite scorer with profound efficiency both within and beyond the arc, perhaps the greatest passer the interior has ever known, and a high-level offensive rebounder when all else fails.
Over the past five seasons, the future Hall of Famer has accumulated averages of 26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.8 offensive boards, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 three-point field goals made on a slash line of .586/.378/.822.
This past season may have been his magnum opus from a purely individual perspective. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 2.9 offensive boards, 1.8 steals, and 2.0 three-point field goals made on .576/.417/.800 shooting.
In the process, Jokic secured his seventh career All-NBA nod, including his fifth All-NBA First Team appearance, while finishing second in MVP voting.
An NBA champion, Finals MVP, and three-time regular season MVP, Jokic's résumé is iron-clad. His dominance has translated to the postseason, with a title and a second Conference Finals appearance to show for it, thus eroding arguments that teams can't win in the modern era by playing through a center.
The perimeter may be more important than ever before, but gone are the days of teams being able to realistically compete for a title without high-level talent down low—if they ever existed.
Jokic certainly isn't the only player to credit for this development, as countless others have helped spark the resurgence of the big man. The likes of DeMarcus Cousins, Davis, Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Domantas Sabonis, and Karl-Anthony Towns are just a few of the players who have proven the center position can produce top-tier players in the modern day.
One simply can't deny the accolades and influence that have made Jokic the preeminent center of his day and the driving force behind teams prioritizing size again.