There are so many incredible things to enjoy about Nikola Jokic and the way he plays basketball. Jokic is one of the greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. His ability to fill up the stat sheet with points, rebounds, and assists is the main reason he’s vying for his fourth MVP Award in five years.
He’s already considered one of the greatest passing big men of all time and his scoring acumen isn’t far behind. He does it from every area on the court, even becoming one of the best three-point shooters in the league this season.
He may well average a triple-double this season and records them at a rate higher than anyone in history. He also, of course, led the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history and he’s a shoo-in to make the Basketball Hall of Fame the moment he becomes eligible.
Jokic impacts the game with his hands on defense
But one thing that Jokic doesn’t get a lot of credit for is his hand activity on the defensive end. No one is mistaking him for a great athlete; he’s not someone who is going to get down in a stance and guard and he’s also not known as a rim protector.
If there’s any potential weakness in his game, it would be his defense as a center. But he’s able to make up for a lot of his shortcomings with elite intelligence and hands. He’s always in the right place and uses his massive frame to block passing lanes and drives.
His eyes are also elite and he’s able to react and use his hands to make a major impact. Despite limited motion, he’s among the league leaders in steals and deflections due to anticipation and reactions.
In a way he can almost lull teams into a false sense of confidence, only to make a snap reaction and pick off a pass or knock it away. His ball skills are incredible, so it should come as no surprise that he can use them just as well on defense.
Jokic will almost certainly never be regarded as a plus defender, but he deserves credit for maximizing his ability. People disregard how much energy he exerts to make the Nuggets offense functional for entire seasons. He deserves some leeway on the other end and the fact that he is still able to make a positive impact with his hand activity should not go unnoticed.