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Nikola Jokic is the only center in NBA history to average 10 or more assists
Brooklyn Nets star Michael Porter Jr. has gone viral more than a few times for his bold off-court claims, and on Sunday, added another controversial take to his collection.
Porter, who spent six seasons in Denver, including the 2023 championship season, believes that three-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic has surpassed Michael Jordan as the greatest player in league history.
“People will say Michael Jordan just to agree, but they haven’t watched the film, Porter said on the Emily Austin Show. “They’ll just say it to agree with everyone else. For me, with my two eyes from what I’ve seen, I’m going to say Nikola Jokic is the best player I’ve ever seen.”
Porter added that Jokic is one of the most effective modern day stars.
“From what I’ve seen day to day, I haven’t seen anybody as dominant as Nikola.”
Nikola Jokic Has Enjoyed a Historic Career Thus Far
GettyNikola Jokic has finished top two in MVP voting every year since 2022
Anytime someone suggests a player’s greatness outweighs that of Michael Jordan, the opinion will be met with resistance.
With that said, Jokic is among the minority of legends with a compelling argument.
The Serbian star, who celebrated his 31st birthday in February, already boasts one of the most impressive resumes in basketball history.
Jokic has earned eight All-Star and seven All-NBA selections through 11 seasons in Denver. He led the Nuggets to their first franchise title in 2023.
Jokic passed NBA legend Oscar Robertson on Feb. 7 for second place on the all-time career triple-double list, recording his 182nd regular-season triple-double.
Versatile bigs like DeMarcus Cousins and Pau Gasol — capable of stretching the floor and initiating the offense — helped pave the way for Jokic. Still, the Nuggets star has outshone his predecessors and redefined the role of a modern-day center.
Jokic has either won or been runner-up for MVP in each of the last five seasons, but has arguably been even better in 2026.
For the second time in his career, Jokic is averaging a triple-double through 48 games this season.
He is averaging a career-high 10.3 assists. No other center in NBA history has averaged more than nine assists in a season.
Michael Jordan’s Legacy Shouldn’t Be Understated
GettyMichael Jordan poses with ASG MVP trophy
There’s no denying that Jokic is a phenomenal talent, but Jordan still boasts a compelling argument as the greatest player of all time.
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, averaged 30.1 points per game in his career. For comparison’s sake, all-time NBA leading scorer LeBron James is currently at 26.9 points per game.
The five-time MVP winner wasn’t just a great scorer, he was prolific in that regard.
Noted X statistician Ryan Spaeder shared this insane stat:
“Michael Jordan could return to the NBA today, go scoreless for 128 consecutive games, and would still average more points-per-game than LeBron James.”
Plus, unlike Jokic, Jordan was also a defensive menace and racked up numerous All-Defensive selections and a Defensive Player of the Year Award (1987) — highlighting his two-way ability.
Given his insane production and role in elevating the NBA to the mainstream entertainment giant it is today, Jordan is still in consideration for the greatest of all time, even if Porter disagrees.
Jalyn Smoot Jalyn Smoot is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has nearly 10 years of experience in local and national media, including print and digital. He previously covered the Texas Rangers for MLB.com and the Philadelphia 76ers for Metro Philadelphia. Smoot is a St. Louis born writer that now resides in Dallas. More about Jalyn Smoot
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