Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Much like Giannis, there’s no question that Nikola Jokic is another generational talent. There aren’t many players his size in the NBA, or ever, that are doing the things that he is doing right now. He can shoot, is his team’s primary playmaker, and may be on the verge of winning his third-straight NBA MVP award. The only box that Jokic hasn’t checked on his NBA career is a championship. And that’s kind of important.
When speaking about the NBA’s best players ever, why isn’t Jokic ever talked about – it’s because he hasn’t won big in the playoffs yet. Throughout his NBA career, Jokic has made it to one conference finals. And last year, the Nuggets lost in the first round of the playoffs.
If Jokic can’t help lead the Nuggets back to the conference finals, at the very least, the narrative surrounding him is going to tank quickly. It won’t be about how generational of a talent he is, it’ll be more about how he’s faltered more often than not when it’s mattered most.
Winning a championship would completely change all of that.