For years now, adjectives to describe Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic’s play have been in short supply. Have cultural commentators bemoaning Jokic’s relative lack of crossover appeal considered that we simply don’t have the vocabulary for his excellence?
This week was one of those weeks where Jokic seemed to have less in common with his peers and more in common with, say, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. First, he nailed a note-perfect no-look pass to forward Aaron Gordon Wednesday in the Nuggets’ 127–117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Then, on Friday, he did this against the Utah Jazz at the halftime buzzer.
JOKIC BEYOND HALF COURT BUZZER BEATER 🤯
‘THE SERBIAN HEAVE’ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MZGh1py1Er
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 29, 2025
Are you kidding me?
Pulling up from about three-quarters of the way down the court—only a few feet off Denver’s own three-point line—Jokic delivered a one-handed three-pointer that looked borderline casual. Even a Ball Arena crowd used to these superhuman feats seemed to pop.
If the wider world is still reluctant to embrace the fame-adverse future Hall of Famer, too bad. Basketball fans will gladly cling to their secret.