Nikola Jokic’s Dominance Sparks All-Time Great Debate

The Denver Nuggets’ early-season form has reinforced their status as a Western Conference powerhouse, opening the 2025–26 campaign with a 13–4 record following a composed road win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Central to that success has been Nikola Jokic, whose latest triple-double included a spectacular late-game assist to Peyton Watson to help seal the victory.

While Jokic’s playmaking brilliance has long been his signature trait, this season he appears to have unlocked yet another tier of performance, elevating both his production and his command of every possession. His consistency has placed him firmly in the conversation for a fourth MVP award, and increasingly in discussions about his place in NBA history.

Former coach and longtime broadcaster Stan Van Gundy recently offered one of the strongest endorsements yet, suggesting Jokic might belong at the very top of the all-time hierarchy. His comments have fueled widespread debate, particularly as Jokic continues to dominate an era loaded with elite talent.

For Denver, the conversation is welcome background noise as the roster settles into its rhythm, complementing Jokic’s excellence with improved play around him. But there is little question that the Nuggets’ fortunes continue to hinge on their do-everything center.

1. Jokic Raises the Ceiling Again

Jokic’s triple-double in Memphis was emblematic of the command he has displayed throughout the opening stretch of the season. His no-look pass to Watson was the sort of read that only a handful of players in league history could make, a reminder of how effortlessly he manipulates defenses. Each year brings higher expectations, yet he continues to surpass them. Van Gundy’s recent assertion that Jokic “might be the best player in the history of the NBA” reflects how far the conversation has shifted. He emphasized that comparing eras invariably favors modern players due to athletic evolution, arguing that many of the greatest talents to ever play have emerged in the past two decades. Jokic, in his view, may sit atop that group. With the campaign still young, Jokic appears firmly positioned as the early favorite for a fourth MVP award. His consistency across scoring, rebounding, and playmaking sets a pace that few players can match, and Denver’s strong record only strengthens his case. His legacy continues to build on the foundation of availability, efficiency, and control. Despite playing in an era loaded with versatile bigs and elite two-way guards, Jokic remains the singular force around which every game he plays seems to orbit.

2. Nuggets Supporting Cast Finds Its Stride

While Jokic leads the way, Denver’s start is also a reflection of improved cohesion around him. Cameron Johnson, one of the team’s most notable offseason additions, has begun to look more comfortable in the system, offering steady shooting and floor spacing after a somewhat tentative first few weeks. Jamal Murray has also emerged sharper and more assertive, rebounding from a comparatively uneven 2024–25 campaign. His ability to create shots and pressure defenses has helped stabilize Denver’s backcourt and reduced the burden on Jokic to initiate every possession. The Nuggets’ depth has grown more reliable as well. Players like Watson and other rotation pieces have provided valuable minutes, enabling Denver to hold leads and sustain momentum when Jokic briefly rests. The improved second unit has given the team a more well-rounded identity. Collectively, the roster is beginning to resemble the balanced, steady group that helped deliver a championship two years ago. The contributions around Jokic do not overshadow his brilliance, but they have made Denver’s early success more sustainable.

3. The Expanding All-Time Conversation

Determining the “greatest player ever” remains a debate without definitive measurement, but Jokic’s inclusion in that realm reflects his unprecedented trajectory. Van Gundy and other analysts have noted that statistical comparisons alone cannot define the discussion, yet Jokic’s efficiency and control of the game stack up with any era. His uniqueness is the core of his argument. Jokic dominates without relying on overwhelming athleticism, instead blending anticipation, precision, and an unmatched feel for the game. Few players in NBA history have influenced every possession—scoring, facilitating, rebounding, organizing—at the level he does from the center position. His impact has also accelerated a stylistic shift across the league. Teams increasingly prize versatility and passing in frontcourt players, mirroring elements of Denver’s offensive structure. Jokic has become the archetype for a new generation of multi-skilled bigs. Even with Denver’s strong play around him, the franchise’s ceiling remains tied directly to Jokic. His ability to elevate those around him—and elevate the sport itself—is the basis of the growing belief that he belongs among the game’s true all-time greats.