Lakers' LeBron James Hypes Nikola Jokić as a 'Great One' Ahead of 2024 NBA Playoffs

LeBron James had high praise for Nikola Jokić ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers star didn't hesitate to call Jokić one of the greats in NBA history, praising his ability to do seemingly everything on the court.

"He's one of the best players to ever play this game," James said. "It's that simple. He does everything. The most important thing is he changes the way his teammates think about their own play. When you're able to inspire your teammates to play at a level that sometimes they don't even feel like they can play at, that's a true testament of a great one."

James has seen just about everything in his 21-year NBA career, so getting that kind of praise is no small feat. This season, Jokić is putting up 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists per game and making a strong case to win his third MVP trophy. After winning his first championship last year, Jokić is climbing the ladder of the best players in NBA history.

But as much as James might respect Jokić, he's looking to end the Nuggets' season in the first round. The Lakers fell to Denver in four games in last season's Western Conference Finals, and James is hoping for a better showing this time around.

The series between the Lakers and Nuggets begins on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.