Dwight Howard breaks down how Nikola Jokic improved since 2020, says Lakers defeat changed him

Losing to LA Lakers in the Bubble ‘lit a fire’ in Nikola Jokic, says Dwight Howard

Howard was a member of the LA Lakers’ 2020 NBA Championship-winning roster, and he played a crucial role in holding back the Joker in the WCF.

Fast forward to 2025, and Howard is shocked by Jokic’s growth as a superstar.

“Watching what he’s doing is crazy. I’m watching, and ‘Are dudes really trying to play defense or is he killing these dudes?’

“Are they afraid to foul? What’s going on, but he’s got so many weapons. He got so much better,” Howard said on his podcast.

Dwight then explained why losing to the Lakers in 2020 was the biggest reason behind Jokic’s transformation as a player.

“I really think when we played them in the bubble, that lit a fire in him. ‘No way, I gotta win now, I gotta go back and get better,'” he added.

Nikola Jokic has added new skills to his pre-game workout

As good as Jokic is, he’s never been known for displaying his athleticism on the hardwood. However, that’s no longer the case as Jokic has shown he can indeed dunk the basketball well.

A huge reason behind it is Jokic slimming down and getting faster on the court, per Howard.

“I could tell that his game, slimmed down a little bit, but I can see bursts, he’s moving a little faster, he’s getting in the action,” the 2020 NBA champion continued.

He concluded, stating: “I watch him before the games, he’s doing dunks and stuff, he took his game to another level.”

Even then, Jokic alone cannot win another NBA title for the Nuggets. After all, the Oklahoma City Thunder currently have a more well-rounded roster in the Western Conference.