As an NBA legend himself, Jerry West has a knack for recognizing potential basketball superstars anywhere. During his recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, he gave his honest take on the current class of NBA superstars and some old ones. One thing that seems to excite ‘Mr. Logo’ is the influx of international talent in the NBA. A certain player from across the Atlantic has caught his eye.

Nikola Jokić’s stature and a wingspan over 9 feet are nothing to be scoffed at. With a talent to put that body to use on the court, he’s the current international phenomenon aweing the league. And Jerry West is noting that.

Jerry West has huge praise for Nikola Jokić

He was asked about Nikola Jokić on The Rich Eisen Show and initially, West looked short on words to describe the Joker. “He is just amazing,” he summarized. The way he went on to speak of the Denver Nuggets center made us wish we could see Jokić through the Jerry West lens.

“You have to watch him carefully around the basket and some of the shots that he makes. You say, ‘Oh he can’t make those shots.’ He makes them regularly and he’s got the greatest pair of hands that any inside player and people don’t really talk about that.” [sic]

All the NBA players on the court should know that Jerry West is watching them. He’s scrutinized Jokić enough to theorize that he might miss some shots to get the crowd on their feet.

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West noted that Jokić can calculate and anticipate his shots, which make him good at the game. And that’s where he draws a surprising comparison.

West pits the Joker against the King

With the likes of Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama, Jerry West is impressed by the current crop of European players. He’s sure more international players are the future of the NBA. He’s already confident that Wemby could be the face of the new generation of NBA superstars.

In the case of Jokić, West sees he has the same brilliance as a homegrown NBA titan. “He is like, you know, LeBron James,” he said it outright.

The former Lakers GM has known James since he was a teen. Apart from talent, he’s seen the impact King James has on his teammates. He calls such players “rarities” and he counts Jokić among them.

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Jokić couldn’t ask for a bigger seal of approval than this. What do you think about the legendary Jerry West’s comparisons? Tell us in the comments!