Is John Elway or Nikola Jokic the greatest player in Denver sports history? MarkKiszla and msinger debate.
You can’t make a list of the 10 greatest quarterbacks in NFL history without including Elway. But know what? In his prime at age 27, Jokic is now making a strong case to be included among the top 10 centers in NBA history. Given that he has played barely more than 500 games in the league, I have to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and George Mikan ahead of Joker. But anybody else? Nope.
The Broncos are religion in our dusty old cowtown, so I know many fans will consider it blasphemy for even mentioning Jokic in the same breath as Elway. And I’m willing to accept Elway’s two championships as a quarterback puts him ahead of Jokic, so long as Broncomaniacs acknowledge Elway couldn’t have won the Super Bowl without Terrell Davis. What does Joker need to become the greatest player to ever represent Denver? No. 1: long-term health. No. 2: better teammates.