Draymond Green isn’t shy about calling it like he sees it, and last week on his podcast, he had a few things to get off his chest - this time about the growing trend of comparing every skilled young big man to Nikola Jokic.
“We got the Jewish Joker now. We got the Baby Joker.
Enough, man,” Green said, clearly fed up with the Jokic comps being tossed around the league. “I have to f-king guard Joker.
You mean to tell me everyone’s just Joker? F-k out of here.”
Green didn’t name every name, but the implication was clear: the league’s fascination with labeling every passing big man as “the next Jokic” has gone a bit overboard. And while the comment wasn’t directly aimed at Brooklyn’s Danny Wolf, the rookie center has found himself in that conversation - whether he asked for it or not.
Wolf, for his part, took it all in stride.
“A lot of my friends and family sent me that clip,” Wolf said. “It was definitely pretty funny.
I didn’t really react much to it. I mean, being compared to the greatest player in the world right now obviously is cool.”
That’s the right kind of perspective from a 21-year-old still finding his place in the NBA. Wolf knows the Jokic comparisons are flattering - but he’s not pretending to be the two-time MVP, either. In fact, he’s quick to point out that while there are surface-level similarities, his game isn’t a carbon copy.
“There’s this trend of slapping the term ‘Jokic’ on younger bigs who can pass and play-make,” Wolf said. “But in all honesty, I don’t really play that much like him. I’m a bigger guy with a different, unique kind of game.”
That “unique” game has been quietly making noise in Brooklyn. Taken 27th overall in June - 14 spots higher than Jokic’s now-legendary Taco Bell commercial draft moment - Wolf has been one of the most efficient rookies in the league so far. Heading into Thursday, he led all qualified rookies in Net Rating (+8.3) and ranked second in plus/minus (+2.8 per game), trailing only Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe.
Defensively, where many scouts questioned his ability to hold his own, Wolf’s numbers are making a statement. He ranked third in the entire NBA in Defensive Rating (98.5), and his 40% Defensive Field Goal Percentage led all rookies who had defended at least 30 shots. That’s not just solid - that’s elite territory for a first-year big.
“There were a lot of questions from teams and front offices as to who I could guard,” Wolf admitted. “I took that as a chip on my shoulder to prove that I can more than guard in this league. But it’s a work in progress, and I need to continue to get quicker and stronger.”
That mindset - equal parts humility and hunger - has served Wolf well. He’s not just surviving; he’s thriving in a system that plays to his strengths. The Nets have encouraged him to let it fly from beyond the arc, and he’s responded with confidence.
“Over the summer, I just really repped out my shot,” he said. “In pre-draft and my workouts I was shooting the crap out of the ball.
… And I’ve been in an organization that wants to shoot 3s. The coaches trust me shooting, my teammates trust me, so whenever I’m open I’m gonna let it fly.”
So while the comparisons to Jokic may keep coming - fair or not - Wolf isn’t trying to be the next anything. He’s carving out his own path, and so far, it’s one worth watching.