Nikola Jokic responded to Caitlin Clark‘s recent praise in a characteristically understated way, showing humor and humility while highlighting their shared professional connection, as the Denver Nuggets star continues a historic season. Clark gushed over Jokic, calling him her favorite player to watch and declaring him the best overall player in the NBA.
The Indiana Fever star praised both his scoring and exceptional playmaking skills on a consistent basis.
“I mean, there’s not many people that average a triple-double,” Clark said to NBC.
“You’re lucky enough to get maybe a couple of those in a season. He’s done it all year long in back-to-back years. So it’s pretty incredible, and honestly, he’s probably my favorite player to watch.
“You run two at him, he’s gonna make the right play. He’s gonna find the right pass. There’s not many big players that can make the right pass, make the right read.
“He does it every single time, every single game. I think that’s what I love about him.
“Obviously, he has the scoring. But a lot of time, you go and check the box score, you watch the game, he’s taken five shots in the first half but he has 12 assists.
“So no matter what the other team does, he’s gonna find a way to tear you apart.”
Jokic’s hilarious response to praise
But Jokic said with a smile when asked about Clark‘s comments, jokingly attributing her admiration to their shared representation.
“We have the same agent, that’s why she said that,” Jokic quipped, a one-liner that quickly spread across social media as fans applauded his lighthearted response.
Clark and Jokic are both represented by Excel Sports Management, the agency founded by Jeff Schwartz, which has positioned them among the NBA’s elite.
Their professional connection adds an amusing layer to the compliments Clark offered during the broadcast.
On the court, Jokic continues an extraordinary season, set to average a triple-double for a second consecutive year, joining only Russell Westbrook in that feat.
His contributions for the Nuggets have been crucial also pacing the league with 10.8 assists, 12.9 rebounds, and 27.9 points per game.
On Sunday, Jokic tallied 25 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and contributed eight assists, narrowly missing a fifth straight triple-double, as Denver defeated the Golden State Warriors 116-93.
It marked the Nuggets‘ sixth consecutive victory and consolidating their hold on fourth in the West.
Jokic led the way alongside Jamal Murray, who added 20 points, as the Nuggets overcame a depleted Golden State squad.
The truth is that the Warriors have looked nothing like the contenders they usually are without Stephen Curry, sidelined for his 25th consecutive game with a lingering right knee injury.
His absence has severely impacted the Warriors‘ rotation and offensive output.
Nuggets bench turns up to help Jokic and Murray
Similarly, injuries continued to limit Denver‘s depth, with Aaron Gordon out due to calf soreness, Spencer Jones leaving the first half with hamstring tightness, and Cameron Johnson exiting early with rib discomfort.
He briefly returned but contributed minimally as the Nuggets navigated the contest.
The matchup became physical in the second quarter, when backup center Zeke Nnaji became involved with De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II following a shoving exchange between Murray and LJ Cryer, leading to Payton receiving a Flagrant 1 foul for a hard hit on Peyton Watson.
Golden State jumped ahead 53-46 by halftime thanks to a 19-2 run. But Denver stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 40-21, with Tim Hardaway Jr. adding 10 points.
It demonstrated the Nuggets‘ resilience and depth despite multiple absences and in-game challenges, with impressive numbers from the bench.
The win followed Jokic‘s milestone 30th triple-double of the season against Dallas, where he posted 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists, further showcasing his ability to dominate games on both ends of the floor.
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