Jokic is already 30 years old, and his future achievements have basically been established, and it is difficult to enter the top ten in history.

On July 24, Nikola Jokic, a basketball genius from Serbia, has grown into one of the most unique superstars in the NBA since being drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st pick in the second round in 2014. In 2023, he led the Nuggets to win the first championship in team history and won the MVP in the Finals, which was undoubtedly the highest bright moment of his career. However, as Jokic enters 30 in 2025, discussions about his historical status are becoming increasingly fierce - does this skilled center still have a chance to reach the top ten in history?

From a technical perspective, Jokic has redefined the center position. He has a historically level of passing vision and has a career-based assists of more than 7 times, which is extremely rare among traditional centers. He has a variety of scoring methods, which can not only play back and singles, but also open up space to shoot, and also has accurate three-pointers. In the 2022-23 season, he became the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 800 assists in a single season. This comprehensiveness makes him feel at ease in the modern basketball system, and has also allowed him to win the regular season MVP for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022).

However, the judgment of basketball's historical status has never been just about personal ability, team honor is the more important yardstick. As of 2025, Jokic has only one championship in hand, which is thinner compared to the top ten superstars in history. Michael Jordan has 6 titles, LeBron James has 4 titles, and even Stephen Curry's contemporary has 4 titles. More importantly, Jokic is already 30 years old. According to the general rules of NBA players, his peak period may only be 3-5 years left. In this limited time, he needs to win at least 2-3 championships to gain an advantage in the discussion of his historical status. The current situation of the Nuggets also casts a shadow on Jokic's future. Although they retained a lineup with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon as the core, the competition in the West is getting increasingly fierce. The young Oklahoma City Thunder has Shea Gilgers-Alexander and Chet Homgren, while the Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, not to mention that traditional strong teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors are still eyeing them. The Nuggets' salary space is close to saturation, and it is difficult to strengthen it any more, which limits the possibility of Jokic winning the championship again. The identity of

international players has also affected Jokic's historical evaluation to some extent. Among the top ten in the NBA history, only Dirk Nowitzki is one international player (and his ranking usually hovers around 10). The American media and fans subconsciously have higher requirements for international players, and they need to achieve more brilliant achievements than local American players to gain equal recognition. Although Jokic has won two MVPs, he needs more championships to prove himself in order to break this invisible barrier.

Jokic's game style is also worth discussing. He is not the kind of player who relies on explosive scoring performances to attract attention, but is known for being efficient and comprehensive. Although this style is extremely effective, it lacks the Jordan-style "killer instinct" or James-style "domination" which is easily praised by the media and fans. In the selection of historical status, this lack of "impression score" may cause Jokic to suffer.

However, we should not completely deny the possibility that Jokic would hit the top ten in history. First, his technical characteristics determine that he may have a longer career than a traditional center. He does not rely on athleticism, but on basketball IQ and skills, which makes it possible for him to maintain a high level until he is 35 or even longer. Secondly, the advancement of modern medicine and training methods has allowed the peak period of top players to be extended. LeBron James is still able to maintain top performance at the age of 38. If Jokic can stay healthy and win another 1-2 championships in the next five years, while accumulating more personal honors, the discussion of his entry into the top ten in history is not a fantasy.

Jokic's story also reminds us that basketball is a team sport, and the criteria for judging historical status may be more diversified. His way of playing changed people's perception of centers and promoted the development of basketball tactics. This influence itself is a valuable legacy. Even if he was unable to enter the "top ten" officially recognized by the government, he had left an indelible mark in this era.

Looking back at Jokic's career, from a teenager in a small Serbian town to an NBA championship, he has created his own legend. Although the road ahead is full of challenges, as long as he stands on the court, he still has the opportunity to write history. For fans, it is a blessing to be able to witness such a unique genius performance. Regardless of the ultimate historical status, Jokic has proven that basketball can have another wonderful way to open.