Dirk Nowitzki Admires Nikola Jokic's Masterful Shotmaking: 'Makes It Look Super Easy'

DALLAS — The NBA world is currently watching Nikola Jokic provide the Denver Nuggets with historic results. After being the first player to ever record a 30-20-10 game in NBA Finals history, Jokic has led his team to a 2-1 series advantage over the Miami Heat ahead of Game 4. 

"I'm happy for him. He's amazing, one of the best players in the world," Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki told ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "And he's showing that right now on this stage."

Jokic has produced many standout shot making sequences throughout the Nuggets' playoff run. Nowitzki admires the way "The Joker" operates with a release point behind his head, helping him to get high arc and execute tough shots. 

"[Jokic's] got a knack for making tough shots, so I was not really surprised that he ended up making that," Nowitzki said. "He can put the release point all the way behind his head and then shoot it super high in the air with unbelievable mark."

A distinction between the patented one-legged fadeaway that Nowitzki would commonly utilize and how Jokic approaches his shot process is that despite both being right-handed player, Nowitzki would launch off his left foot while Jokic launches off of his right. 

"It's just something that works for him," Nowitzki said. "I never liked shooting off that right foot on that one. I thought I felt it was super hard for me just to coordinate. It was easier off the left foot, but it actually looks pretty smooth for him off the right leg.

"There's no way to get to it [as a defender] 'cause he's also 7 feet and moving away from the defender on that shot. It's just impossible to get to."

Nowitzki admires how Jokic utilizes his precise footwork to help still have an advantage over just about any defender that tries to stop him. The creative approach from the Nuggets superstar is a great way to give the defense a different look throughout a game, especially in a situation that calls for a tough bucket.

"He has the balance," Nowitzki said. "He's got the touch for it. He's got the high release point. He's got all the things you need to shoot that shot well. He found that.”

“Obviously he's not the fastest, most athletic guy. It's not as easy to keep driving by people and grind all the time. That's just the shot that he can get off at any time, and he makes it look super easy."

Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).