Nikola Jokić, NBA and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has three MVP awards in his locker and an NBA championship ring, but the future hall-of-fame player famously didn’t get much respect on TV back in 2014 when he was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial.
On Feb. 7, 2023, LeBron James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. And now, Jokić has passed Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time assist leader among centers.
Two-way star Cade Cunningham leads all NBA players (Min. 300 DFA) this season–boasting a 40.8% Defended FG%. Cunningham has held shooters to 130-of-319 from the field as the primary defender. Cunningham also leads the NBA with four games of 15+ PTS, 5+ AST, 2+ STL and 2+ BLK. pic.twitter.com/83LOVrhVte
Nikola Jokić has once again proven his talent and strength on the court as he became the center with the most assists in NBA history.On Thursday, December 18, in the thrilling clash against Orlando Magic,
Wilt Chamberlain is the closest center on the top 10 total assists by a center list, with 4.1 assists per game. Jokić is virtually a point guard for the Denver Nuggets. He makes us reimagine how the game can be played. Though Jokić is one of one, he still stands on the foundation that bigs before him laid down.
The story has followed him ever since, becoming an NBA folklore favorite. Jokić has joked that he refuses to eat Taco Bell, with the Quesarito forever associated with a draft night snub that left him off camera and off menu.
Indications through the first quarter of the NBA season have the MVP race shaping up to be a showdown between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić with everyone else vying for third place.
It seems almost silly to tack on 6.4 assists per game, creating 17.7 additional points for his team — more than point guards like Jalen Brunson, De'Aaron Dox or Darius Garland. He is a uniquely efficient and uniquely productive offensive force.
In tandem with the return to menus, Taco Bell has fittingly called on Jokić to finally try the Quesarito for the first time and is offering a friendly apology for the coincidence that ultimately became a viral sports moment.
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