"I also think math is really connected with basketball"- Nikola Jokic opened up about his reputation as an intelligent player and its connection to his study habits originally appeared on Basketball Network .
Nikola Jokic is undoubtedly a Top 3 player in the league today, as evidenced by his impressive resume. He recently became the first center to average a triple-double during a season. The 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, The Joker has managed to surpass all expectations.
It all started with Jokic making the All-Rookie First Team in 2016. He turned out to be a surprise package for many. Interestingly, the Nuggets center was a popular name in the European circuit. A four-time Serbian player of the Year, he played youth basketball for Mega Basket.
Jokic was never the traditional NBA center, especially given the way he moved on the court. He had a peculiar style of playing, which was not particularly pleasing to the eye for some people. That said, he exceeded most expectations from Day One, garnering the league's attention.
Entering his sophomore season, Jokic addressed his status as a high-IQ player and his hunger to learn more. He also talked about his hobbies and fondness for math as a subject.
"In school, I really liked math when I was younger. When it started to be really hard, I didn't try as hard as I should anymore, and I don't know why. But I still like math. Numbers and problem solving, I really like that. I also think math is really connected with basketball," revealed Jokic.
Jokic has always been drawn to numbers, whether it is his love for math or statistics as an NBA player. A walking triple-double, he can impact the game in several different ways. He recently became the first-ever player to post 30+ points, 20+ assists and 20+ rebounds.
A regular in league MVP debates every season, he is not one to make too much noise about his performances. Currently, No. 3 all-time in triple-doubles, it is only a matter of time before he dethrones Russell Westbrook as the leader. Not something one would expect from a center.
He is already the all-time leader in assists and rebounds for the Nuggets. Soon to enter his 11th season, he could dethrone Alex English as the all-time leading scorer. Currently, Jokic holds the second position with 16,210 points, while English has the top position with 21,645 points.
Hearing your name in the same breath as Wilt the Stilt would be a dream come true for most players. However, this is already a reality for Jokic. According to ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr., the Serbian big man is on an island by himself, putting up Chamberlain numbers .
"I think, not only is Jokic the best player in the league, the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 (best players) in the league is as wide of a margin we've seen since LeBron James was with the Heat or since maybe in (Michael) Jordan's era. Jokic is on an island by himself putting up Wilt (Chamberlain) numbers in this era of the NBA," stated Dennis Jr.
Given how dropping a triple-double has become a regular activity for Jokic, it will be interesting to see where he finishes his career. Though not as physically gifted as The Goliath, he is on a historic path when it comes to posting monstrous numbers.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
