DeMarcus Cousins has never been shy about big-man debates, and when Nikola Jokic came up on Gil’s Arena, he put the Nuggets star in rare company.
Cousins started with the names that still sit at the top of the center conversation: Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also gave David Robinson his due, pointing to the quadruple-double as part of the case for why the Admiral deserves more respect.
“That’s always a tough conversation,” Cousins said. “… We get so caught up in recency bias, but I think [Shaquille O’Neal] is by far the greatest center ever.
I think Hakeem [Olajuwon] is also in that same stratosphere. Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] is also in that same stratosphere, the most winning player of all time.
“I don’t think David Robinson gets enough credit,” Cousins continued. “Quadruple-double in a game.
That’s some impressive s***… I think the difference is the chips. All those guys kind of got like multiple chips.
So, as of right now, for me, I would put Jokic somewhere in that seven, eight range as of now. But if he gets another one, then we having a real, real conversation.
I think that’s top five category for sure.”
For Cousins, the championship count is what separates Jokic from the inner circle right now. Abdul-Jabbar has six NBA titles, O’Neal has four, and Olajuwon and Robinson each have two. Cousins had those four as his top four when he previously listed the five greatest centers of all time, with Dwight Howard taking the fifth spot.
Jokic already has the 2023 title on his résumé, but Cousins said another ring would push the conversation into a different lane. Even then, he made it clear he would still put Jokic alone at the top when it comes to pure offense.
“I’m a little more technical when it comes to judging players,” Cousins said. “And I feel like the players that do it on both ends, they’re just in their own category as it is.
You can never overlook that. But if we’re just talking offense, I think he’s No.
- Just offense alone?
I think he’s clear-cut No. 1.”
Cousins had a front-row seat to Jokic during the 2021-22 season in Denver, when the Serbian center won his second straight MVP. Cousins said Jokic is even better now.
The numbers back that up. In 2025-26, Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He also became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists per game in the same season.
Jokic’s offensive bag is as deep as it gets. He can score from just about anywhere and controls the Nuggets’ attack at an elite level.
Philadelphia 76ers superstar LeBron James called Jokic the most dominant and complete player he has ever faced, a statement that only adds to the sense of how special the eight-time All-Star has become.
Former Nuggets head coach George Karl has also suggested Jokic had top-10 all-time potential, but said the team cost him that chance. Denver has lost a lot of key role players since its title run, and the Nuggets are not viewed as title contenders in 2026-27. With Jokic not going anywhere, that championship window may already be closing.
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