Nikola Jokic has already cemented himself as the greatest player in Denver Nuggets franchise history; however, he now has entered into the polarizing Denver sports GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation.
For decades Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and Colorado Avalanche Center Joe Sakic have jostled for the top spot, but after Jokic won the first title in Nuggets’ history and added a third MVP award to his resume this season, the door has opened for The Joker to take the top spot.
Jokic is not your prototypical star athlete. Sure, he’s the best player on the Nuggets and is on a max contract, but you would never guess Jokic is the best NBA player in the world today by how he carries himself on a day-to-day basis. Jokic is quiet and reserved, deflecting praise from the media throughout his NBA career. However, following his latest accomplishments, Jokic was asked about potentially being the greatest Denver pro sports athlete of all-time, and his answer was as advertised.
“We are going to start with this now,” Jokic said in a press conference for his third MVP award. “I heard about them (Elway and Sakic) I don’t want to start this conversation. I think living in Denver and being a part of Denver, it’s cool. Even in hockey, it’s just enjoying the moment because I was here when we were not good and everybody talked bad to us. Enjoy the moment, the process, because it’s probably going to pass, everything passes and this will pass too. Enjoy the moment and be happy.”
Nikola Jokić wants NO part of the Denver sports 🐐 debate 😂 pic.twitter.com/vhRbu2ofiT
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) May 14, 2024
Jokic and the Nuggets are in the midst of a tough second-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the series tied at 2-2. Former Denver Nuggets General Manager Tim Connelly is the architect of the current-day Timberwolves, and famously selected Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft when he was running the show in Denver. Since Jokic won his third MVP award, the Nuggets are 2-0 and have rounded into championship form after a lackadaisical performance to start the postseason.
Elway famously led the Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances, winning the final two (Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII) before riding off into the sunset. Sakic led the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cup Titles (1996 and 2001) and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all-time. Following his playing career, Sakic moved over to the Avs front office where he helped steward a team to another championship in 2022.
Who is the Denver sports 🐐
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) May 14, 2024
A second NBA Title to go along with his now three MVP awards could cement Jokic as the greatest pro athlete in Denver Sports history, and yet, he does not seem to care one bit.