Stan Van Gundy’s Absurd Nikola Jokić Take Will Infuriate NBA Fans
Move over, Michael Jordan! Move over, LeBron James! Nikola Jokić is now the best basketball player of all time … at least, according to former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy.
While appearing as a guest on a new episode of The Zach Lowe Show, Van Gundy suggested that Jokić might actually be the GOAT.
After Lowe wondered aloud whether or not Jokić is the best offensive player in the history of the NBA, Van Gundy took things further.
“Well, he might be the best player in the history of the NBA,” Van Gundy said. “Here’s the thing … I understand the thought that you compare players to how well they did in the era they played in. But the evolution of athletes (means that) we can probably say that the best 20 basketball players in history have probably played in the last twenty years.”
To put it plainly, Van Gundy’s take on Jokić here is absolutely absurd, despite the fact that Jokić is arguably the best player in the NBA right now.
When you zoom out and look at Jokić’s career accomplishments and overall player profile from an historical perspective, it would be difficult to argue that he’s a top 10 player of all-time, much less the GOAT.
If Jokić were to retire tomorrow, he’d probably land somewhere in the top 15 or top 16 players of all time on a sound list.