Ahead of the Golden State Warriors' win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave high praise to Nikola Jokic, calling the three-time MVP winner the best center he's ever seen. Also included is Karim Abdul-Jabbar, whom Cole briefly played against in 1988.

This is sure to draw some old-school opposition, but let's be honest. Saying that a great player like Jokic is the best interior player you've ever seen is not a disparagement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Hakim or Shaq or anyone else, like someone saying that LeBron is the best player they've ever seen, not a disparaging of Michael Jordan or vice versa, or that Stephen Curry is better than Magic Johnson or vice versa.

這些都是歷史級別的球員。偏好會有所不同，正如科爾所說，時代是任何主觀評價的一個因素。但這裡要表達的重點是，約基奇是一位歷史級別的球員。我們已經超越了他只是世界上最好的現役球員的範疇。這個人僅僅用了10個賽季，就已經有充分的理由成為歷史前十的球員，他遠未達到巔峰。他最終可能會進入GOAT（歷史最佳）的討論，這取決於他打多久。他就是這麼偉大。

Like everyone else, I have my own opinion and he is the best passer I've ever seen. Not the best passer among post players; The best passer of all players. He chases assists like a great scorer chasing a shot. He saw them, or felt them, before the assists appeared. The defense looked weak in front of him. My teammates are in heaven.

Like LeBron in his prime, Jokic thinks he can score 40-0 points every night. He's a pass-first player, but still a historic scorer from any position on the pitch. Magician-like footsteps. Dexterous touch and creativity. A methodical, almost casual rhythm that is not really trying. The greater the athletes, the easier they can make things. Jokic is a great athlete. Stop saying that traditional things like running and jumping are the only definition of athletic talent. His natural ability to coordinate is a superpower.

Is he better than Abdul-Jabbar? I do not know. I was too young to really watch Abdul-Jabbar play, not in his prime. But Cole wasn't crazy when he said that. It's okay to disagree, but it's an honest conversation. Jokic fully deserves that respect and, again, he's nowhere near his peak.