‘Never see anyone better’: Nikola Jokic’s 66-foot shot blows NBA world away

Nikola Jokic may well be the best basketball player on planet earth right now after the Denver Nuggets sensation did the unthinkable.

Is there a better basketballer on the planet than Nikola Jokic right now?

The 211cm Serbian superstar is already a three-time NBA MVP, has an NBA championship ring and is a walk-up starter for the All-Star game every season — having already tallied seven All-Star berths — but somehow, he keeps getting better.

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Jokic is on track to average a triple-double, the first time since Russell Westbrook achieved the feat in 2020/21, with 30.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists so far this season.

While Westbrook achieved it four times, Oscar Robertson in 1961/62 is the only other player to do it.

Jokic is in insane touch for his Denver Nuggets as he led the side to a 132-123 win over the Sacramento Kings, stuffing the scoresheet with 35 points, 22 rebounds and 17 assists in another virtuoso performance.

He’s just the second player in history, joining the legendary Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, to tally 35+ points, 20+ rebounds and 15+ assists in a game.

Through 44-games the Nuggets are 28-16 with Jokic having already tallied 20 triple-doubles for the season, and his fifth straight.

For the record, the most ever recorded in a season is 42 by Westbrook in 2016-17, meaning Jokic has plenty of time to chase it down.

But while the numbers are impressive and show just how elite he is, it’s the way he’s scoring points.

With one second left in the third quarter, Jokic threw a quarterback like heave, hitting the three at the opposite end of the court.

The reports were it was a 66-foot (20m) shot that never looked like missing. It’s the sixth longest shot in NBA history.

“He got it,” the commentators screamed. “Nikola Jokic!”

Asked about the shot after the game, Jokic said with a knowing smile: “I knew it was going in.”

But the commentators weren’t the only ones losing their minds as social media reacted to the freakish move.

DNVR Sports head of content Harrison Wind said: “Tonight was one of those games you watch and think to yourself that you’ll never see anyone better than Nikola Jokic.”

Mile High Sports analyst and YouTuber Swipa tweeted: “Everybody keeps asking, ‘How can they keep giving Jokic the MVP Award?’

“No one is (or has been) good enough to take it from him.

“There is no way you can be honest with yourself and say someone is playing better basketball than Joker.

“This is a Top 3 NBA Season ever.”

Is there a better player in the world? Nah. Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images

Fox Sports 1’s Rachel Nichols wrote: “Jokic: One hand, 3/4 court, at the buzzer. Sure.”

CBS Sports’ Max Gorenstein added: “Jokic is the best player I’ve ever seen and it might not be close. Holy s**t.”

Another added: “Jokic threw that s**t from Serbia.”

But while the world was losing its collective mind, one of the men who knows Jokic best was hardly surprised.

“Not surprising,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He’s a guy that has this uncanny ability.”

And Malone added that Jokic was just getting started, having already put together the best season of his career, despite having win the MVP award in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

“This is the best season he’s ever had and that’s saying something,” Malone said of Jokic. “And he’s not satisfied.”

Which is a comment that’s is utterly chilling for the rest of the NBA.

With AFP

Originally published as ‘Never see anyone better’: Nikola Jokic’s 66-foot shot blows NBA world away