From criticized to NBA champ and top player on court—unexpected!

Reman777

The NBA Finals finally concluded on June 12th, and this year's championship was unsurprisingly won by the Denver Nuggets with a dominant 4-1 victory over the Miami Heat. The Finals MVP award was rightfully given to the heart and soul of the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic. But who could have imagined that this once overlooked player, who was drafted 41st in the second round, would rise to dominate the entire NBA league with absolute authority?

Nikola Jokic leading a small-market team like the Nuggets to a championship is nothing short of miraculous. However, if you know Jokic's story before, you'd find his journey to be quite legendary. Nine years ago, when Jokic first entered the NBA stage, he was just a 41st overall pick, with his brilliance overshadowed by other top draft picks. Moreover, at that time, most scouts had negative evaluations of Jokic, describing him as ""fat, soft, and slow."" These were the prevailing opinions of him, and no one was interested in this chubby player.

Even when professional scouts spoke ill of Jokic, the Nuggets' management somehow saw his potential in the sea of prospects. The Nuggets' executive Arturas Karnisovas put in a lot of effort to convince Jokic to come play in the United States. However, Jokic's personality is quite laid-back, and he felt that the American lifestyle wasn't suitable for him. He only reluctantly moved to Denver to play because his girlfriend was studying in the U.S. After landing in the NBA, Jokic's performance quickly caught everyone's attention.

Initially, you'd catch glimpses of Jokic's plays in the occasional top 10 assists highlights. But later, people realized that this big center was much more than that; he was a perfect fit for the modern center position. After the Warriors ushered in the era of small ball, every big man had to learn how to shoot, pass, and handle the ball. This is where Jokic's value shone. He didn't just do what traditional centers could do; he excelled in layups, three-pointers, ball-handling, and assists. It wasn't until he burst onto the scene that people realized centers could play like this. When Jokic averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game in the 2018-19 season, the era of the facilitating center was born.

The fact is, it's not that centers became ineffective; the requirements for centers have become more demanding than before. While Jokic had won two regular season MVPs, his lack of a championship ring sparked controversy. However, after yesterday, no one doubts that Jokic indeed revolutionized the game. Winning the FMVP award, he became the first center to win this accolade in nearly 20 years. People began to claim that the era of dominant big men is making a comeback. The demands for big centers will be higher, and we might see more emerging center players in the future.

Jokic led a small-market team to break a 47-year championship drought, and there's no doubt he has made history. His name will forever remain in the hearts of Denver fans. At just 28 years old, this championship might not just be one championship; it could be the beginning of a dynasty.

Nihar991

Was he chubby before? He looks so slim now! He's definitely a promising player!

Ira1991

The NBA arena only recognizes strength; no matter if others mock or falsely accuse you, as long as you have the ability, you will be acknowledged. Gold will always shine.

Anil333

He might be genuinely overweight, but in fact, he is not lazy at all. With that average playing time and the four-overtime game, if his training intensity isn't high, how could he endure?

Paulomiiiii

Indeed, his performance this season has been quite outstanding.

Rakhi53

Impressive, being named the MVP of the game just showcases the player's true abilities!