After winning a pair of championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995, NBA veteran Sam Cassell is understandably biased in favor of his legendary teammate at center, Hakeem Olajuwon.
While Denver’s Nikola Jokic is currently the gold standard among NBA big men, having won three of the past four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, Cassell doesn’t view the Nuggets star as in the same caliber as his two-time champion and Hall of Fame teammate.
Speaking to Draymond Green — a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Golden State Warriors — on Green’s podcast, Cassell said of the comparison (as transcribed by EuroHoops.net):
Hakeem is a beast in every sense on the floor. He’s in the Top 10 in every NBA category — steals, rebounds, points. I think Jokić would score more points, but Hakeem would win because he would constantly pressure him. Jokić wouldn’t be able to do damage in the post; it simply wouldn’t happen.
On the other end of the floor, Jokić wouldn’t stand a chance. Joel Embiid gives him problems, and he wouldn’t have any hope against Hakeem. I believe Hakeem would have an answer for whatever Jokić tried defensively.
Now an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, it’s worth noting that Cassell previously spent three seasons (2020-23) as an assistant in Philadelphia. There appears to be a rivalry between Embiid and Jokić, and that experience working closely with Embiid and the 76ers might have further tilted Cassell in an anti-Jokić direction.
Cassell’s complete podcast comments can be viewed below.
