LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, has faced multiple all-time greats in the postseason and is now preparing for his second playoff matchup with Nikola Jokic in as many years. When asked where the Denver Nuggets star ranks among the all-time greats he has faced, James replied, “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game. It’s that simple.

When asked what he admires about Jokic’s game, James responded, “He does everything. He does everything. Most importantly, he alters his colleagues’ perceptions of their own performance. When you can motivate your teammates to play at a level that they don’t even believe they can, that’s a true sign of a great one.

James and Jokic have a lot of mutual respect since both legends appreciate how difficult it is to beat each other. This will not be an easy series for any club, and while Denver is favored, they are expecting a tight battle.

The Nuggets swept the Lakers in last year’s Western Conference Finals, but no one on their team feels the repeat will be simple. The Lakers are driven to reclaim the Nuggets, and Denver is aware of and prepared for this dynamic.