After watching Nikola Jokic and Isaiah Hartenstein of the Thunder duke it out in their seven-game playoff series, it’s easy to forget that IHart was once a Nugget. On a recent Podcast P Show appearance, Hartenstein was asked for the biggest thing he picked up from playing with Jokic, and he immediately said passing.
Hartenstein noted that he was already a good passer, but Jokic taught him the intricacies like looking guys off, manipulating defenses with your eyes, watching the eyes of defenders to see passing lanes, and other specific skills. He also explained how Jokic is like a coach on the court, telling guys where to be and what to do.
He was complimentary of Jokic’s basketball IQ and explained that even in the playoff series this year, it felt like the Joker was coaching the team while on the floor. This also came from the same podcast appearance where Hartenstein claimed the Nuggets were the only team that had them on the ropes.
It’s pretty clear that Hartenstein really values his time with Jokic, and he thinks very highly of the three-time MVP and his team.
Jokic starting to gain justified credit and respect from peers
It’s good to see Jokic starting to get the respect he’s due from the media and other players. It will be interesting as time goes on to see how many other former teammates start to tell other stories like this and credit other parts of their game to the greatness of Jokic.
Years from now, I can imagine the stories that will come out and the way Jokic will be talked about as if he were some larger-than-life mythical figure. He’ll be heralded as a modern-day basketball version of Paul Bunyan.
And yet, it all feels warranted. Jokic has already had an incredible impact on the NBA, and if he plays a few more years, he will have touched multiple generations of players. We’re already starting to see the effect he is having on youth, as there are more and more players each year with giant frames and finesse games, much like Hansen Yang, the 16th pick of this year’s draft by the Blazers, who is already being dubbed Chinese Jokic.
This is just the beginning. By the time Jokic is done with the NBA, there will be countless imitations, and his legacy will be felt on a worldwide scale.