Nikola Jokic gets outlandish compliment from Shaq after dominant feat

Matthew Legros
Shaquille O'Neal (left) and Nikola Jokic as a member of the Denver Nuggets (right).

Nikola Jokic’s impactful performance against the Boston Celtics on Thursday garnered widespread praise and a hilarious characterization from Shaquille O’Neal.

Jokic poured in a triple double to the tune of 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as the Nuggets beat the Celtics 115-109. It marked his 20th of the year and eighth with 30 points.

His impressive feat got love from those who witnessed it. O’Neal added flavorful wordplay to the way in which he dominated from start to finish.

Shaq compares Nikola Jokic’s defenders to lasagna

The Hall-of-Fame NBA center commentated on Jokic’s highlights during Inside the NBA’s halftime show.

Known for comparing inept defenders to “barbecue chicken,” O’Neal came up with a new food reference for the Celtics bigs who failed to hold the two-time league MVP down, as one Jokic fan page reshared on X:

“Latvian lasagna. Latvian lasagna. He can’t guard that man, Chuck,” O’Neal said of the 240-pound Kristaps Porzingis.

O’Neal’s adulation was the most captivating in a long list of praise dished out to the Serbian 7-footer.

Porzingis told NBC Sports Boston following the Celtics’ loss that the 2024 All-Star was “in his bag,” and there was nothing they could do about it, as Noa Dalzell shared on X:

To top it off, NBA aficionados made several comical references highlighting Jokic manhandling Boston’s defense:

The Kia NBA MVP Ladder favorite added to an already noteworthy body of work with another masterpiece against the No. 1 overall seed in the Association.

The basketball world gave him his flowers for it.

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