Dwight Howard Knows He Lit A Fire Under Nikola Jokic in 2020

Jokic is one of the most unstoppable players in the league because he is dominant in every area. Back in 2020, he was not the unstoppable figure. He was already a superstar and MVP candidate, but he found his peak after the Nuggets lost in the 2020 Playoffs.

Denver finally got their wish for success in the 2022-23 season when Jokic led the team to the championship over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. It was a superb achievement that cemented Jokic's status as an all-time great.

Howard Thinks Jokic Learned From Playing Against Him

When Howard played against Jokic, the Lakers won the series in the 2020 Playoffs. It was a competitive series because Jokic and Jamal Murray were going toe-to-toe against LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

That series was one of the toughest series the Lakers had on their way to a championship. It also served as a massive lesson for then-head coach Michael Malone and his team.

Jokic was probably the player who learned the most during that loss, as he went against Howard, Javale McGee, and Davis at points in the game. Since then, he has been nearly unstoppable on offense because of his versatility and experience.

"The Joker. I met him during my latter years and his super young years. Watching what he's doing, it's crazy. I've been watching him, and there are dudes who are really trying to play defense, he's really just killing these dudes," Howard said on Michael Porter Jr.'s Curious Mike podcast.

"Watching the games, I promise you, are they afraid to foul? He's got so many weapons... When we played them in the Bubble, I think that lit a fire in him... I could tell in his game that I watched him slim down a little bit, and I could see a burst in his game."

Jokic Can Go Down as One of the Greatest Centers Ever

Howard has a point because Jokic has been driven to success since that loss to the Lakers. In fact, he took it upon himself to be the star player for the Nuggets across two postseason series in 2023 and 2024.

With three MVPs, one Finals MVP, and being known as the greatest player in Nuggets history, Jokic already has a legendary resume. It will only keep improving as he matures, considering his game does not require high-level athleticism.

He looks like a sure-fire player in the basketball Hall of Fame, and he could be in the pantheon of all-time great centers. As the Nuggets enter this new era with David Adelman as the head coach, Jokic will remain as the star player.