Jokic’s Awkwardness is What Makes Him Elite
Ever wonder why Jokic is a two-time MVP? It’s because of his awkwardness.
Okay, so if you’ve been on the internet lately, looking at NBA stuff, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot of clips and whatnot of the Sombor Shuffle.
It’s Nikola Jokic’s signature move and ever since he and the Denver Nuggets made it to the Finals, it’s been viral in the NBA community.
Anyway, I’ve been watching these clips and one thing that I’ve taken away from them is that it’s an awkward move.
He’s shooting a fadeaway on the same foot as his shooting hand and it doesn’t look like it should go in but it does 99 percent of the time.
He’s also shooting these at the three-point line a lot.
It’s wild!
Like what you’re reading so far? Share this post with your friends and family!
But it’s because of this awkward style of play, Paul George says, that makes Jokic damn-near unstoppable.
On a recent episode of Podcast P, George said that it’s hard to pinpoint why Jokic is unguardable, but said that The Joker’s fundamentals (timing, positioning, and precision) are elite.
“[Jokic] does have an awkward game,” George said. “Even when we play him -we’re switching a lot, so I have moments of guarding him- and for me, it’s like ‘this is easy. I’m faster than him and if he beats me I can catch him.’”
“But it’s such a fundamental game, he just… it’s hard to explain because he counters everything,” he continued. “It’s precise… the timing is what makes it elite. If you reach or push up on him, it’s literally like boom, you realize, ‘damn, that was a mistake. I shouldn’t have did that. And why can I not guard this dude?’”
“He don’t jump high but he knows how to position himself to get rebounds,” George added. “We just never figured out how to guard him.”
Final Thoughts
Jokic has been having a stellar postseason.
He’s averaging 30 points on 54 percent, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
He’s also annihilated some of the best teams in the Western Conference in the playoffs.
Let’s hope he can continue this high-level play so that he can get himself a ring and the Denver Nuggets its first Larry O’Brien trophy.
Support the Newsletter
If you got anything from this article, such as enjoyment or an epiphany, consider subscribing or upgrading to a paid subscription.
Read These Articles
Let’s Take A Look Back At When Nate Robinson Blocked Yao Ming
Report: Pistons hiring Williams as head coach on 6-year, $78.5M deal
Lakers rumored to prefer sign-and-trade options for D’Angelo Russell, eye Fred VanVleet
Shannon Sharpe Is Reportedly Leaving ‘Undisputed’ And Skip Bayless