This is probably not the case in history nba draft A selection that is highly valued over his position, that is 41st selection in 2014when Denver Nuggets They already stayed with a two-time MVP of the regular season and a one-time MVP of the Finals. Nikola JokicThis has to be one of the best legends in the game.
But how exactly did Jokic land at that 41st pick? Why didn’t any of the other teams pick the Serbian in the top 40 spots in the lineup? The truth is, this wonder of historical proportions was, to fruition So many factors They hurt Somborin made him fall in that line. Next, we review three important ones.
Physical doubts
If only they had heard until recently Doubts or questions on the constitution of JogikAlready the league’s MVP, they were multiplied to the nth power before his arrival in the NBA.
In a league dominated by exceptional athletes, an interior appeared Many extra kilos And? Couldn’t get off the ground Define in loop. A player who did everything at his own pace, without spectacular plays in the open, without flying around the offensive or defensive boards.
“Her body type made it easy for questions to arise“A few years ago the former manager of the Nuggets said, Tim Connelly, during an interview with The Denver Post. “We think about the teams that have failed to draft players like this in years past. as Marc GasolDidn’t look like Adonis (a Greek mythological figure) when picked in the second round.“.
His team lacked minutes
The name Ratko VardaAn unforgettable NBA run through the Detroit Pistons in the early 2000s created one of them. Butterfly effects That helped the Nuggets secure Jokic in the second round of the 2014 draft.
The senior inside Jokic’s Mega Beemax’s best contract for the 2013-2014 season of the ABA League And his presence limited the minutes Joker In the Serbian first team.
2012-2013 was the first season where Jokic had some minutes on the field (4 matches in the Serbian league) and in the same 2013, He showed some impressive qualities during the U19 World CupAveraged 7.1 points and 5 rebounds for runner-up Serbia.
Without Varda, we could have easily seen Jokic as a starter in 2013-2014. However, in addition to the team’s main offensive note, it was the veteran former Pistons who took that spot in the starting lineup: he averaged 14.8 points in 23.7 minutesThrough 24 games (all starts) in the ABA League.
Jogic, on the other hand, He came on as a substitute in 22 out of 26 gamesHe still managed to average 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds.
For next season, Vartha left the team And Jokic, already drafted by the Nuggets in 2014, became the starter. The result? was He was selected as the MVP of the ABA League 2014-2015Just before making the jump to the NBA.
What would have happened if Jokic had started in 2013-2014? It’s impossible to know, but seeing as he was able to win the MVP the following year, we can at least logically conclude. He would have been one of the best players in one of the toughest and most competitive European leagues. Had that been the case, some other owners might have set their sights on the Serbian before picking up 41.
Peaceful development
Unlike other top international players Luka Doncic or recently Victor Vembaniama, Nikola Jokic wasn’t one of the names that had been buzzing around for years before draft time. Partly because of and partly because of the greatest competition Serbia’s youth teams have ever offered Work in a group LittleAway from major continental competitions such as Euroleague or Eurocup.
This is also true Within the Serbian establishment, Jokic is not a highly regarded name Like others in their formative years. He did not register for the U19 World Cup as he only participated with the youth teams. Without official competitions in categories like U18, U17 or U16.
Like other Serbian interiors of his generation Nikola Jankovic, Nikola Miludinov or Dusan Ristic, they were ahead of him in consideration. Until of course, Jokic’s talent saw him burst onto the scene between 2013 and 2014 to show that his level was higher than any of his teammates or the team.
