The game between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors took an unexpected turn. Nikola Jokic, the Serbian maestro of the Nuggets, pulled up with a half-court-long awe-inspiring game-winning 3-point shot.
While pulling up with the unexpected game-winning shot for the Denver Nuggets, it seemed to have a shooting motion very similar to that of the legendary Larry Bird.
Nikola Jokic going viral with stunning game-winning shot
The stage was set at the Chase Center in San Francisco on January 5, 2024, and the tension was thick in the air as the Denver Nuggets found themselves in an 18-point deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
Yet, while being behind so deeply, Nikola Jokic still managed to orchestrate a comeback of epic proportions. And with the game tied on the line and a mere three seconds remaining on the shot clock, Jokic, a center known for his dominance in the paint, found himself well beyond the three-point line.
Unfazed by the distance, Jokic still took his chances by shooting it from afar, making an unexpected 40-foot bank shot to secure the Nuggets a big win for the night.
The comeback was also highly contributed by the team’s collective symphony of playing as a team, which mounted on a 25-4 run in the last quarter.
Aaron Gordon also returned from injury and played a pivotal role by scoring a season-high 30 points and igniting the Nuggets’ offense when it mattered most.
The Nuggets finally celebrated their 11th win in 13 games, leaving the Warriors stunned with a difficult loss to digest, all because of that magical Jokic shot.
Jokic draws Larry Bird comparison from Gilbert Arenas
In the aftermath of the jaw-dropping win, the basketball world buzzed with great excitement and admiration for Jokic’s incredible game-winning shot on all social media platforms.
The former 3-time All-Start NBA player, Gilbert Arenas, drew that shot in comparison to that of Larry Bird, a three-time NBA champion who is renowned for his clutch performances, which added a layer of historical significance to the moment.
After drawing up a play for the team in the last few seconds, this is what Michael Malone, the head coach for the Denver Nuggets, had to say about Jokic’s making a bank shot:
“I wish I could tell you [that’s how I drew it up]. But that’s just a great player making a great play. Nikola lives for those moments. And it’s great and joyful to watch a player of his talent go out there and make the plays that he makes.”
But Jokic still remains humble and strives to be grateful for such victorious moments, as he expressed in the post-game interview with Charles Barkley on TNT when asked if he intentionally meant for the shot to be a bank shot.
“My friend, it went in. I’m happy,” the iconic joker said.
How much more can we expect ‘The Joker’ to make such a legendary place that continues to draw us in awe of his craft?
