Nikola Jokic gets all kinds of love from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic had a ridiculous game against the San Antonio Spurs over the weekend.

And it’s even catching the attention of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who’s said some questionable things about Jokic in the past. Plus, he hasn’t shown him MVP love in the voting.

But Jokic went for 40 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in an epic OT victory over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, proving he’s still the best basketball player in the world.

On Monday morning, Smith heaped praise on Jokic during ESPN’s “First Take.”

"Nikola Jokić is unreal. I don't know how to put into words how phenomenal this dude is."

—@stephenasmith reacts to Jokić and the Nuggets' win vs. the Spurs 👀 pic.twitter.com/hQIh1Ic3Pv

— First Take (@FirstTake) April 6, 2026

“I’m running out of words to say about Nikola Jokic,” Smith said. “Don’t think it escapes me, he should be apart of every MVP conversation. The league MVP conversation shouldn’t exist without him.”

Smith goes on to say that if Jamal Murray is clicking then “Denver can beat anyone.” He assumes Jokic is going to do Jokic things and Murray is the x-factor.

Heck, that’s how the Nuggets won a title in 2023, with Murray being a phenomenal Robin to Jokic’s Batman.

And while none of this is new to Denver fans, it’s always nice when the team gets credit at the national level and not just from local media personalities.

Still, Smith didn’t go as far to say as he’s voting Jokic for MVP, but the Serbian sensation got plenty of love in that clip above.

Now if Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets win another title it’ll be impossible to ignore he’s one of the all-time greats, if not already on that level.

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