Shaquille O’Neal was the only player in NBA history to dominate the league. Coaches devised a whole new set of regulations to protect him because his very presence could be so intimidating. But even if the LSU graduate isn’t as physically intimidating, Nikola Jokić is just as domineering as the Lakers big man, according to a former colleague.
Derek Fisher joined Byron Scott’s Fast Break to talk about Shaq’s hegemony in the game and how Jokic’s current grasp is analogous. Fisher stated: “Nikola Jokić has been deserving of the MVPs the way he dominates the game. Obviously, extremely different than Shaq. But the concept is the same. You have no matchup for Nikola Jokić,”
It’s not as absurd as it would seem at first to compare Shaq to Jokic. Fisher emphasizes that although their influences are different, they are nonetheless equally powerful. Fisher furthered his case with an interesting comparison between the WWF and the WWE.
Fisher stated: “There was a time when WWE was the WWF. World Wrestling Federation. Again, not right or wrong because one could argue that the WWE is more impactful sport than the WWF,”
To demonstrate how various approaches might lead to the same intended objective, he compared the WWF and WWE. Shaq possessed immense power. He was the strongest player on the team and could not be stopped from advancing toward the hoop. Because of his physicality, teams were compelled to field at least three big guys in case one of them fouled out.
That’s not how Jokic is forcing his will on the game. Still, he improves his teammates. Because Jokic will locate the open guy during every defensive slip, teams are obliged to hoard excellent defensive players.
