“Generational talent.”
That’s a phrase that we hear a lot in sports. Sometimes it is warranted. Sometimes it is hyperbole lobbed as split-screen talking head sports analysis online to garner clicks and views. And at the end of this piece you may decide that I am one of those people.
However, there are players that deserve the accolades of standing above the crowd in their time in their respective league. I happen to believe that at the quarterback position in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers is one of those players. In full transparency, I’m not a huge fan of his antics off the field but it is hard to argue with the man who holds the top all-time quarterback rating in the NFL when he’s on the field.
So why am I comparing him to Nikola Jokic?
To me, that’s a simple question to answer. The comparison is because Rodgers’ time in Green Bay was wasted by the Packers organization. In his 15 years (I won’t count the three he spent on the bench as Brett Favre’s backup) the team won a grand total of one Super Bowl.
One.
And to be fair, winning one is nothing to ignore. It is a massive achievement and shouldn’t be swept under the Wisconsin cheese-stained rug. Green Bay was a consistent contender, both in the Division and in the Conference. That should also be celebrated. But the most diehard of Packers fans will always ask “What could have been?”
Were some of the team’s failures on Rodgers’ shoulders? Of course. Was he, or other key players, injured at times? Like all NFL teams the answer is yes.
But the organization made its fair share of mistakes too. Rodgers’ offensive numbers were great, but the team frequently lacked equal success on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in the middle to lower half of the league. Mike McCarthy’s predictable play-calling, in-game management and roster decisions all left Green Bay needing more from its head coach. And speaking of the roster, the organization often opted for a “draft-and-develop” mentality instead of bringing in proven veterans who could help Rodgers and the team as a whole.
Now that you see a mini history lesson of the Packers, do you see why I’m scared Jokic is becoming the same person?
Consistent postseason appearances. Check.
Multiple MVP awards. Check.
One championship. Check.
Every major sports organization must keep some of its focus on the future so by no means am I suggesting not to draft talent to help your roster. A team GM lives in both the present and the future.
But the worst thing you can do is be so preoccupied with the future that you miss out on what’s right in front of you. The peak years of Nikola Jokic are here. I’ve even heard some try to argue that most of the peak is behind us. Play the salary cap game. Juggle talent. Woo free agents. Do everything you can to maximize the roster surrounding Jokic.
Coaching? Mike McCarthy might have been on the sideline for the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV win, but saying his name in some establishments around Green Bay could get you kicked out. Michael Malone might be the Lakers’ “Daddy” but I’d rather he be the father of twin trophies, so he still has work to do.
There’s always one lingering thought in the back of my mind and it is why this comparison is so important to me.
The upcoming NFL season will be Rodgers’ 20th. For Jokic, next season will be his 10th in the NBA.
Jokic loves his home, his family and his horses. He carries an overly laid-back personality. In a few years his body may still be able to dominate this league, but I don’t believe Jokic is an NBA “lifer.” So, Josh Kroenke, Calvin Booth and Michael Malone better not waste the next couple of Nuggets seasons.
If they do, we’ll all be left wondering when the next “generational talent” will be coming to Denver.