NEW ORLEANS — Nikola Jokic’s original disciple has outgrown the infant label.
Alperen Sengun is a fully formed All-Star by now, a synthesis of skill, strength and smarts at the center of the only NBA offense better than Denver’s.
“Baby Jokic” is his own person now, Actual Jokic declared this week.
“He’s talented. I think people are connecting (me) with him, but we are different types of player,” Jokic said. “He’s an amazing player. You can see some similarities, but I don’t want people to see him and tell me he’s something like me. I think that he’s a good enough player to have his own story.”
It’s a valid point. Jokic may be more of a rival than an idol to Sengun these days, especially as the Houston Rockets try to establish themselves as Denver’s equals in the Western Conference hierarchy.
But the Turkish big man is also representative of a more meaningful trend, which was on display again this week, even before the Nuggets visited Houston — a recent proliferation of Jokic idolatry throughout the sport.
As Denver’s three-time MVP has gradually climbed the ranks of basketball legends, his influence on the next generation of centers has grown increasingly apparent. His idiosyncratic archetype is going mainstream. His qualities feel attainable to young hoopers. Bigs with superior court vision and finesse are in fashion. The kids want to play like Jokic.
It’s not just Baby Jokic anymore. It’s not just “Jokic Lite,” as pundits have described one of his European contemporaries, Domantas Sabonis. Portland drafted Yang Hansen, nicknamed “Chinese Jokic,” in the first round last summer. At Saint Louis University resides “College Jokic,” Robbie Avila. On Wednesday in New Orleans, the Nuggets were properly introduced to Bourbon Street Jokic.
Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, another 2025 first-rounder who studies and emulates the Serbian, went shoulder to chest with his role model in the first 30-point game of his career. He attacked the future Hall of Famer with a fearlessness uncommon for a 20-year-old.
“He’s good. He has some moves,” Jokic said after a 125-118 Nuggets win. “He’s definitely crafty. He’s unorthodox. Great touch around the rim, feel for the game. It’s good to see somebody different.”
Sound familiar?
“I think I’m a little bit taller. But I think there is that style I can see. Slow. Crafty. I can see that.”
To describe any of these players as precise replicas would be reductive, of course. Bits and pieces can be derived from Jokic. It doesn’t have to be the entire play style. Oklahoma City Thunder draftee Thomas Sorber has cited his vision as a trait he’s trying to emulate. Former North Carolina State lefty DJ Burns became a March Madness darling with his drop step and scoring touch in the post, mesmerizing Jokic in the process.
Even Spurs 21-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama, who couldn’t be much more different physically, has a deep admiration for Jokic and shares his ability to be used in unusual ways for a center, such as coming off pin-down screens like a catch-and-shoot guard.
But this is what happens when an athlete reaches unimpeachable status. Comparisons might be unfair to an unproven rookie like Queen, but they’re only a result of what he aspires to be.
“Everybody that plays against LeBron does this, all the rookies for us,” Pelicans coach James Borrego said before the game on Wednesday. “They go play against LeBron, and it’s almost surreal. I guarantee there will be a surreal moment tonight for Derik Queen.”
After it was over, Queen spent much of his interview scrum marveling at Jokic’s flashy highlights (a behind-the-back pass to Peyton Watson) and at the subtleties of his game.
“There was a play for him. He had a post-up. He didn’t like the spot. He threw it out and got to his spot,” Queen said. “It just seemed so effortless and easy. So just little stuff, just trying to learn little stuff from him.”
“It feels good to leave a mark behind you,” Jokic acknowledged. “If players look up to your play style and want to copy, I think it’s cool.”
The burden on Queen to succeed in New Orleans is immense, through no fault of his own. The Pelicans sacrificed an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up for him in a much-maligned draft night trade that signaled their intent to compete in the West immediately.
Predictably, that’s not going very well. The Pels fired their coach less than a month into the season and fell to 2-13 with their loss to Denver on Wednesday. But Queen has been a bright spot. If there’s a glimmer of hope for the future in a town that deserves better from its NBA franchise, it probably involves Queen functioning as a Jokician play-making hub.
After all, that’s proving to be a feasible foundation in the modern NBA even beyond Denver. Sengun is averaging 31.4 points and 9.9 assists per 100 possessions, both in career-best territory. The Rockets are thriving offensively, though admittedly also aided by their size, rebounding prowess and a guy named Kevin Durant.
Still, Sengun is integral. Houston’s offensive rating drops off by 8.7 points when he’s not on the court.
Baby Jokic is all grown up.
But there’s one nickname that hasn’t been handed out to any of the acolytes, because even the teams that flirt with the possibility of building around a stylistically similar big man know that imitation is only that. There’s no point searching for the Next Jokic.
