Ex-Champ Warns Shaquille O’Neal & Hakeem Olajuwon Of Nikola Jokic Threat On NBA Legacy: “Coming For Their Spots”

Game 5 for the Minnesota Timberwolves was the final blow in a series of reality checks. From being down 0-2 against them, Nikola Jokic and Co. delivered masterclass after masterclass against the Wolves to now stand at 3-2. Of course, last night’s matchup would be considered the best of them all. Jokic danced around Rudy Gobert like he had a point to prove not just to Gobert, but to the whole NBA world!

Apparently, he is not done. Ex-Celtics legend, Kendrick Perkins, comes with a warning for the league. At the NBA on ESPN studio, Big Perk claimed, “That statement game last night by Nikola Jokic was not just for the Minnesota Timberwolves. That statement was to the all-time greats, to let them know that he’s coming for their spots! When I say all-time greats, I’m talking about these center positions. I’m talking about Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal.” Jamal Crawford just finished making his 3-player statement, bringing out the Larry Bird comparisons too!

Watching the ‘Joker’ put everyone who doubted and called him out for getting his third MVP this year, in their place with last night’s 40-point performance, Jamal Crawford, already made a similar statement. Though it was more of an observation. “I just saw three different players. I saw the Dream Shake, the Kareem hook, and now he’s running Magic Johnson at the points with a little Larry Bird.”

Well, the ‘Big Shaq’ might be missing from this list, but it’s an All-Time Greats list, nonetheless. Clearly, NBA legends agree in one voice that Nikola Jokic is indeed one of the greatest centers to grace the league in the modern day.

If the ’90s was the MJ era, this could very well be Nikola Jokic’s!

With good reason, too! On the night Adam Silver presented Jokic’s third MVP trophy, the reigning champion displayed an MVP-worthy performance. Some would claim that it was even better. Others, though, echo Aaron Gordon’s statement, “I’m not even entirely sure what I just watched.” Then again, those who have been watching the Serbian big man since his arrival at the NBA wouldn’t be too shocked.

Take, for example, a few instances from his last season’s playoff performances. The list of Stifle Tower-like, dominant defensive bigs he annihilated is pretty noteworthy.

• Jokic overpowered the deadly duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker with 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 10.3 assists in the second round.
• The 29-year-old had no words for Anthony Davis. Just results. A stat line of 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 2.0 threes, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals in the conference finals was his reply to the self-proclaimed “best defensive player in the league.” And of course, the Nuggets demolished LA.
•  Then there is Bam Adebayo of last season’s championship favorite, Miami Heat. Jokic averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists against him in the NBA Finals.

Including 4x DPOY Gobert, those are three of the league’s best defenders, with future HoF KD also on the list. For a player drafted No. 41 in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft season to emerge as one of the, if not THE, deadliest opponents to look out for is no small feat. A fact that many are coming to realize late, but fast.