Bob Ryan, a former beat writer for the Boston Celtics, compared Nikola Jokic to Larry Bird.
Few things compare to the legendary Boston Celtics player Larry Bird. With his 6-foot-9 frame and all-around skill set, Bird was perhaps one of the NBA’s best ten players ever.
Bird, who is regarded by many as the best passing forward of all time, helped the Celtics win three titles during the 1980s. In addition, he joined Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as the only three players in history to win three consecutive MVP honors. Former Boston Globe reporter Bob Ryan acknowledged that Nikola Jokic, a talented player for the Denver Nuggets, might be comparable to Bird after witnessing the Nuggets defeat the Celtics in the season series.
Bob Ryan claims that Nikola Jokic plays with the same “mastery of the game” as Larry Bird.
The favorite to earn MVP for the third time in his last four seasons is Jokic. The Nuggets center has established himself as perhaps the best player in the league right now. He is a powerful presence on both sides of the court.
Similar to Bird, Jokic has made his squad a consistent challenger for championships. This season, Jokic, a triple-double machine, is averaging 26.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. Like Bird, he accomplishes it without using only his physical prowess. He is intelligent and consistently appears to be one step ahead of the other court participants..
Jokic finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 115-109 victory in their most recent encounter against the Celtics. Furthermore, he had no turnovers.
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On “Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast,” Ryan stated, “There’s a level of efficiency that very few ever attain for even a brief period of time.” It’s what I refer to as game mastery. Larry was in his mid-eighties when he hit that point.
When you consider them, they complement each other quite well. Jokic is now there. I adore him since he works at his own pace. He is unable to be stopped from traveling wherever he desires. He was not deprived of his dribbling by anyone. Not one little guy crept in. He prevents those things from occurring.
“At seven feet tall, he is a basketball PhD who can make three-pointers and throw passes that players in the league don’t see.” He plays exceptionally well.
Ryan thinks the Nuggets play and Jokic is being pursued by the Celtics.
The Celtics, at 49-14, own the best record in the NBA despite their two losses to the Nuggets this season. Ryan claims that it doesn’t matter that the Nuggets (44-20) are now ahead of the Celtics in the standings.
Regarding the Celtics, Ryan remarked, “The fact is you’re trying to catch Denver, not the other way around.” “I don’t give a damn about the current win/loss record.
“We are aware of Denver’s injury problems. They demonstrated their ability to do the task last year. Until it happens, we shall stick to our unchanging theme. In other words, the Celtics have demonstrated their lack of ability.
“They have demonstrated their ability to win regular-season games, sometimes with margins of up to 50 points. Although we are aware of their power, your fate is not decided by these games.
