Nikola Jokic’s greatness has become impossible to deny. The 3-time NBA MVP is also a champion and has a Finals MVP to his name. His efficiency is absurd, his playmaking is spectacular, and he is almost peerless offensively. But Stan Van Gundy is putting Jokic in NB GOAT conversations.
Even as a center, while the Denver Nuggets man has achieved a lot, there are those with more accolades. He doesn’t have the hardware to compete with some of the truly great all-time legacies. But Van Gundy, a former NBA coach, thinks he could go all the way to the top.
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"He might be the best player in the history of the NBA." – Stan Van Gundy on Nikola Jokic 🃏👀
Zach Lowe said he thinks Jokic might be the best offensive player in NBA history.
📹 @MiroslavCuk pic.twitter.com/HQ6KMhCQKY
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) November 26, 2025
“Well, he might be the best player in the history of the NBA,” Van Gundy told Zach Lowe. “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… We can probably say that the best 20 basketball players in history have probably played in the last twenty years.”
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic handles the ball against Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Even for the biggest Jokic fan, this take might be out there. He’s achieved things very few players have, but many former NBA stars have simply done more. The GOAT conversation is a step too far, although a couple more championships might start to change this perspective.
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