While the basketball world has been marveled by Serbian's growing impact on the game, former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins reminded everyone that Jokic's modern-center style didn't come out of thin air.
Cousins, a four-time All-Star and twice a member of the All-NBA Team, has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. He made a bold claim about laying the groundwork for the modern-day big man — a versatile center who can stretch the floor and act as a playmaker.
Absolutely. Not to take anything away from anything, Nikola Jokic. He is a one-of-one," saidDeMarcus, who played 29 career games with Nikola, a three-time MVP, all in the 2021-22 season. "When it comes to these modern-day bigs we see today, that we're praising today, I feel like I'm the godfather. And they won't give me the credit, which is fine."
But I credit myself," he continued. "I know what I've done in this game. I'm the first big [man] getting triple-doubles. I'm first big shooting 3s. I was getting triple-doubles when there was two bigs in the paint, when there was a power forward and a center. I've been doing this."
Cousins, a four-time All-Star and twice a member of the All-NBA Team, has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. He made a bold claim about laying the groundwork for the modern-day big man — a versatile center who can stretch the floor and act as a playmaker.
Absolutely. Not to take anything away from anything, Nikola Jokic. He is a one-of-one," saidDeMarcus, who played 29 career games with Nikola, a three-time MVP, all in the 2021-22 season. "When it comes to these modern-day bigs we see today, that we're praising today, I feel like I'm the godfather. And they won't give me the credit, which is fine."
But I credit myself," he continued. "I know what I've done in this game. I'm the first big [man] getting triple-doubles. I'm first big shooting 3s. I was getting triple-doubles when there was two bigs in the paint, when there was a power forward and a center. I've been doing this."
