Written by Opinionated MJ (Michael Tolliver Jr)

Congratulations to the Denver Nuggets on winning the 2022-23 NBA Championship!!

Jokic has been great! Great for awhile now.

BUT!

I’ll reserve judgement until his career is done. Same as all the others, unless they’re in the twilight. I’ll also take this moment to give credit to Mike Malone and DeMarcus Cousins. Without that experience, I’m not sure we make it here. Sorry, Kings. Hold that L for firing Mike and banishing Boogie.

Let me get back to Nikola Jokic. He could go on to have LeBron longevity.

Or…
He could turn into Eddy Curry.

What’s wrong with waiting until someone’s career is over to rank them??

Jordan becoming the goat in real-time still has an effect on today. Big media matched everyone up against him, then Kobe, now LeBron, and now everybody. Why are you changing your mind after every game in regards to where many players sit in the ranks when they’re nowhere near done yet?

Some players might have blank years. Some players might not. Some players might have to fight to become the main guy on the team. Some teams might go through 6 coaches in 10 years. Some players might have a coach that doesn’t favor rookies or the playing styles of certain players. Sound familiar? It’s the current NBA.

I don’t forget the Jokic vs Nurkic battles that I’m sure everyone has forgotten. Since then, Nurkic has suffered injuries and faced diminished mobility. Jokic has lost weight and has become an offensive juggernaut since that time. Let’s not forget that he’s already been this way, his weapons were injured. The story continues.

This is still a team sport. Next season, I’m sure there’s some way that people will claim his legacy could be forever tarnished if he lost against Domantas Sabonis or something crazy. 2023 Championship that turns into a gentleman’s sweep against the Kings. Then everyone will suddenly turn on him and try to diminish what he’s done. He still won’t be 30.

Let’s allow Jokic and the NBA players to play their careers out and etch in the final numbers. The final chapters of their NBA story. We’re creating a stressful environment where these active players are faced with the gymnastics of being number 17 today, 4 tomorrow. Then, 21 or 11 when it’s all said and done. I sound stupid doing all that jumping right? Yeah. Now hold a mirror up to yourself. It’s you changing the ranks everyday.