What does Jokic have to do to get respect? The dude just had one of the most dominating playoff runs of all time.
It's hard for people to accept that the best player in the NBA right now is a big slow white dude with a vertical leap of like 6 inches. But it's true.
I agree with you but I think part of it is that Jokic has absolutely no interest in the limelight, which is part of the reason I like him so much. He doesn't care one iota about being "that dude" and just wants to spend time with his horses and family. He doesn't really play the American media games so we're not always getting his soundbites shoved down our throats. His style of play also isn't super flashy, it's pretty understated and focused mainly on extremely intelligent passing and dominant post play/midrange shooting.
I just think this list is rage bait. ESPN has declined a long way from what they used to be, and nowadays are known more for their ludicrous "analysts" than truly analyzing the game of basketball at a high level.
@Rade Don't take ESPN "experts" seriously ever. Like I already said, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are not serious analysts.
@CaptainUnderpant As for Jokic, anyone who actually appreciates the game of basketball loves the way he plays. The man has a ridiculously high basketball IQ, and yeah basically everything you said is why I, like many other basketball fans, love Nikola Jokic.
Players who the media hates like Kyrie, Randle, Harden, Ja, and Zion are way too low. What in the world is Paolo Banchero doing at 30 and why is Anthony Edwards ahead of Lillard??
The media hates them? By and large the players you listed carry a ton of annoying baggage that can outweigh their basketball prowess. Zion's barely played any actual games since he got drafted and Ja is suspended for 25 games to start this season. How can you be the best when you're not on the floor?
Baggage doesn't change how good of a player you are. And I don't think even the most diehard Magic fan could say that Banchero had a better season last year than any of these players, and the only one that he has a chance of being better than this year is Harden. Kyrie, even with all his baggage, should be around 20. Randle made an All-NBA team last season and if this list is for playoff success then why is Giannis at one? I kind of agree with Zion and Ja, but the other ratings are disrespectful. It's not just big-name players either, where is Derrick White??? I'd much rather have him than Chris Paul or Jordan Clarkson.
Understood, but I disagree. The only reason Kyrie isn't a top 10 guard all-time in my book is because of his off-court stuff (and injuries). I wonder if ESPN factored the new rules on missing games into this because nobody you mentioned started more than 65 games last season except Randle, who I agree should be higher. I dunno about Banchero but the dude was ROTY. Derrick White for real got snubbed, at the end of the day I guess it's just a list.
some strange omissions... where's Dinwiddie? Levert? Monk? Caruso? Adams? Fultz? just to name a few. meanwhile they've got Scoot ranked without ever playing a game. Wemby was more understandable but so far Scoot's shown he doesn't belong on this list yet. pathetic.
I obviously should have tried his actual name, but when the quiz didn't accept KAT I just assumed he had fallen off, or gotten hurt (I only follow the NBA loosely). Not too important, but probably worth accepting his nickname.
It's hard for people to accept that the best player in the NBA right now is a big slow white dude with a vertical leap of like 6 inches. But it's true.
At least they didn't put him behind Embiid.
@Rade Don't take ESPN "experts" seriously ever. Like I already said, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are not serious analysts.
@CaptainUnderpant As for Jokic, anyone who actually appreciates the game of basketball loves the way he plays. The man has a ridiculously high basketball IQ, and yeah basically everything you said is why I, like many other basketball fans, love Nikola Jokic.
Seriously... Russell Westbrook at 94?