By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are widely considered leading players in the NBA. However, Paul Pierce wondered about the Joker being a superstar in a recent episode of KG Certified, while sharing his opinion about Luka Doncic facing pressure on the way to the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
“He’s been favored to win MVP the last three years,” he answered a question by co-host and former teammate Kevin Garnett about which star player is under the most pressure coming into the new season, “When we talk about the face of the league? Luka’s name is in that mix. I just feel like it’s him.”
Among more accolades, the Slovenian combo guard of the Dallas Mavericks has been named an NBA All-Star and entered the All-NBA First Team for five years in a row, since 2020. Shy of the distinction of the most valuable player so far, he seems destined to conquer yet another mountain, sooner rather than later.
A close friend, the Serbian center was the Finals MVP in the championship run of the Denver Nuggets in 2023 and also captured three season MVP awards, including the most recent nod. Nevertheless, Pierce posed a question about Jokic being a superstar.
“Joker is a superstar,” Garnett clarified immediately.
“I think people look at Joker, and even though he doesn’t have great athleticism. He has a presence about himself,” he continued mentioning a ‘great leader’ and ‘walking bucket’ as the main qualities of a superstar.
The new Regular Season starts on October 22.