DeMarcus Cousins feels he was the first Nikola Jokic in the NBA: "They won't give me the credit"

[Road20]

If anything Bill Walton is Jokic's Godfather. He was a point center in Portland. They ran the offense through him

 

[Rekkapryde]

Bro was nice but come on

 

[IIVI]

I think Shaq can be as heliocentric as Jokic in the half court.

Passes on the fast break, no look dimes when he got the ball, got defenses fooled with his looks, had a flair for fancy, terrific at passing out of double teams, etc. Put Shaq on a team with shooters like today and it’d be a 3 point nukefest and a ton of assists. Not to mention all the fouls he’d stack considering how much offense can bulldoze today.

Not nearly a point center like Jokic but they ran many offenses through him and he distributed effectively. Shaq is 5th all-time assists by a center in the Play-offs and Jokic is 4th.

 

[nieman]

Dirk never played at the 3?

Yeah. He came into the league mainly as a 3...similar to KG. Gary Trent was their PF, AC Green was too. When they would switch the lineup to an offensive team is when he'd be the 4.

Honestly, is it fair to compare Jokic tho? How many bigs were given the green light to completely run the offense? Vlade could do it, and was secondary ball handler but you had Magic. Webber could, but GS had General, and played moving the ball. Bullets had Rod, Kings moved the ball. Bird could but didn't play like that...and didn't want to play like that. Sabonis could but came into the league 12 yrs too late. KG could. Walton was one they frequently ran the offense through. Even Shaq could but why? It's not like people weren't capable, they just didn't or weren't allowed to fully do it.

 

[feelosofer]

No. Cousins had an elite offensive skillet but he couldn't stay healthy plus he was never a great passer.

Like Shaq was an underrated passer especially coming from the paint.

 

[RammerJammer]

Arvydas Sabonis? Even though he was past his prime when he got to the league

 

[King Poetic]

He was a hella of a player

But Sac Town never moved needles while he was there

 

[Street Knowledge]

There’s being a “great passing big”, and essentially functioning as your teams primarily playmaker like a PG which is what Jokic does.

 

[mastermind]

Yeah. He came into the league mainly as a 3...similar to KG. Gary Trent was their PF, AC Green was too. When they would switch the lineup to an offensive team is when he'd be the 4.

Honestly, is it fair to compare Jokic tho? How many bigs were given the green light to completely run the offense? Vlade could do it, and was secondary ball handler but you had Magic. Webber could, but GS had General, and played moving the ball. Bullets had Rod, Kings moved the ball. Bird could but didn't play like that...and didn't want to play like that. Sabonis could but came into the league 12 yrs too late. KG could. Walton was one they frequently ran the offense through. Even Shaq could but why? It's not like people weren't capable, they just didn't or weren't allowed to fully do it.

an issu with this convo is being a good passer does not equal being a good facilitator. Those things get conflated in these discussions because we aren't taught that they are not the same

Most of the players you‘ve mentioned could not be trusted as offensive facilliators. Webber and Shaq were high turnover players.

Bird was a scorer first. Vlade was a good passer, but not a facilitator and initiator.

KG is the only name I would consider because he did play it a couple years in Minnesota.

 

[Squirrel from Meteor Man]

boogie was never an excpetional passing big tho...numbers sometimes lie and all but only two seasons over 4 assists per game dont

If they took away the “assists” they give Jokic on a nightly basis he’d probably average 5 to 7 at best.

 

[CarltonJunior]

Wasn't the same passer but he's right mostly

Boogie did everything out there

 

[mitter]

So Chris Webber didn't exist? Arvydas Sabonis? Vlade?

Derrick Coleman is rolling in his grave.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Even Shaq could but why? It's not like people weren't capable, they just didn't or weren't allowed to fully do it.

This is all I’m saying. Dirk and Nowitzki aren’t a direct comparison, but are examples of players not being pigeon holed into a role because of their stature. Now, we can say that’s the benefit of playing overseas and that style of play being green lighted for US ball and that’s fine, but a black American center will never get the opportunity to showcase his skillset to that degree….well, we haven’t for the last half century

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

If they took away the “assists” they give Jokic on a nightly basis he’d probably average 5 to 7 at best.

Yeah. This been known. But they have done it for other players and is to be expected….

 

[IIVI]

Additionally, this is where the Jokic and Sengun comparisons break down a little.

I think Boogie was closer to a Sengun than Jokic. Jokic is a legit floor general.