this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
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Prime LeBron or current Jokic it doesn't matter but based on what you've seen from them throughout their careers because we already have an adequate sample size for Jokic, who do you think is a better passer?

I think it's Jokic but I'd easily change my mind if I hear a really good argument for LeBron.

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[–] wolfishnickelsyr@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago
[–] lonny__breaux@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I’d take Lebron. He can run both sides of a pick and roll better than Jokic.

Jokic has maybe 2/3 inches of height on Lebron and Lebron is a better passer in transition.

Jokic washes him in the post passing though.

Jokic. He can do more with less athleticism, less talent, less communication, sharper accuracy, flashier passes with emphasis on intent and less on flash.

[–] ANATABAKANA@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Jokshite is better than Lebron at literally NOTHING lmao

[–] ThirdEyeKaiii@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago
[–] itsjohnlazy@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Man, I say Jokic is the greatest passer of all time but I always get absolutely hated by many for it.

Like Jokic can literally just stand there doing nothing for the whole time and can get a highlight pass of an assist in a manner nobody expects and nobody see it coming. Whereas LeBron and Magic for example are great passers as well but at most time it’s also their ability to create shot for themselves, the drive and kick, and transition that generates a lot of their assists. In passing, and purely in passing only, Jokic is so effortless in generating them because a lot of times he just only stands still, scans, and all of a sudden he has an assist.

It’s because Jokic can’t provide rim pressure like those guys lol, and as the guy above me pointed out Lebron used to similarly run the offense out of elbow sets.

[–] UnitedStateOfDenmark@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm going to spam this thread with Magic highlights. Have you never seen any Magic highlights? Its chock full of them int the post making amazing interior and kick-out passes.

Magic Johnson existed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdHRCL0kM7M

[–] MarcusFizer@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

While these are amazing, they are clearly a step below Jokic’s. Please go watch Jokic passing highlight. I feel like Jokic gets half of Magic type assists on a nightly basis.

I'm sure Magic was doing this on a nightly basis as well. I watch plenty of Jokic, Magic's passes in just one video are on his level. He was also doing it when this type of passing didn't exist. There's something to say about someone revolutionizing the game.

[–] lemonpepperlarry@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Least biased jokic Stan

[–] Jakanzi@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I'm with you on Jokic as an all time passer but I think it's wrong to say he does nothing or is just scanning and then gets a pass out of nowhere. That's certainly how it looks but a lot of comes as a result of fooling defenders with his eyes or directing his teammates where to go, sometimes possessions in advance. And especially nowadays, teams are very much reacting to his dominant ability to score which opens up more passing options as a result. It's pretty hard to evaluate passing in isolation to a players other skills sometimes because in theory a player could be the best passer in the world but if they're not good enough as a dribbler/scorer/shooter, you might never see it because they rarely generate an advantage. So ironically, as Jokic has gotten better as a scorer, I've been somewhat less impressed with him as a passer because it's easier now.

That all said, I remember thinking even in 2018 or 2019 that he was the best passer I've ever seen in terms of the creativity and the advantages he creates with his passes, and it's cool to see consensus approach that.

One other thing that's interesting to me about thinking about passing as opposed to most other skills over time is that there are ways in which it's gotten much easier, as teams take more threes and players are much more spread out on the court. Magic could pinpoint passes to teammates in the paint even with 7 or 8 other guys in there and nobody has to do that anymore.

[–] SalahManeFirmino@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Saying Jokic is the greatest passer of all time is like saying Curry was the greatest shooter of all time in like 2013 lol.

People really don't want to hear it, even if it's true, they are too nostalgic over their favorite players from eras past.

jokic water polo background has made him a better passer, no knock on lebron who can score easier

[–] feelgood505@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'd say it's Jokic. His passing reminds me of soccer/football, which I never saw in any other basketball player.

[–] TechSergeant_Chen@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Jokic reminds me of Bird, where he's always half a step ahead of the game. Or making a play two beats ago so that now when it unfolds the guy's wide open.

[–] preddevils6@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

What do you mean soccer/football? Are you implying that you’ve never seen someone that can pass into space to create a play cause that’s what playmakers like Lebron do too.

[–] Askesl@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

He does kick the ball more than anyone else lol

[–] Apprehensive-Tea-39@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It's LeBron and it's not even close.

[–] eanregguht@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Jokić is the greatest basketball player of all time.

[–] kvngbabba@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

lebron lets really think about if prime lebron was in this NBA today not the 2000s and early 2010s

[–] DigOlBick99@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Finally, a good post. Lebron!

[–] BaileyHistory@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It's Lebron

[–] WitchiePoo@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Jokic of course.

[–] OkImpression408@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This thread full of half calf Nike socks who never watched pre 2010 basketball lmao “best passers ever” these 2 won’t crack the top 10

[–] DefiniteSauce12@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Lebron is great at generating open 3s. Jokic is great at generating shots at the rim and hand offs. Both dabble in the other category as well.

[–] Pandamonium-23@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Nah it’s Jokic

Jokic pretty easily

[–] Zachkah@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

How would hearing any argument change your mind? Do you not trust your own eyes to make this determination? Like, what could you possibly read that could change your mind?

[–] C4CitrusFruit@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It’s not disrespectful at all to Bron to say Jokic here. You’re comparing an A+ general passer to maybe the best all-around passer of all time. Jokic can simply make passes at a higher rate that I don’t think LeBron would try to attempt.

[–] DamnStupidFlanders@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Fair to say Jokic here which is kinda wild.

Depending on your definition of “Playmaker,” Bron might have that one

[–] lochnesslapras@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Not a clue historically, just want to say that Jokic 3/4 inbound pass alley-oop to Aaron Gordon a few games ago was maybe the best pass I've seen in years.

And every live broadcast missed it until replays way after.

[–] RPDC01@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Joker by a decent bit, at least when passing is viewed in isolation.

I view it similarly to a self-created shot vs. an assisted shot, in the sense that LeBron's passing was 'assisted' by his overwhelming ... everything (speed, strength, size, athleticism, handle, skill), which allowed him to collapse defenses in his sleep.

Another sports analogy is play-action, which makes passing somewhat easier b/c defenders are slightly out of position. LeBron was his own play-action, b/c opponents needed an army of defenders to have any hope of preventing him from pressuring the rim.

[–] KingNephew@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

LeBron without a doubt

[–] gigglios@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Its jokic. Lebrons passing is kinda overrated. He isnt in the magic nash jokic etc tier at all when people try to put him there.

[–] attackanddominate@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Idk but just watch and enjoy. It’s Jokic and Lebron making similar passes. 1 hr long. I don’t watch many highlights but I think I’ve watched most of this twice https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KHKIdg-UMxI