If you look at an official NBA box score or the back of a trading card, the answer is simple. Nikola Jokic is a center. He’s 6'11", weighs 284 pounds, and usually starts the game by jumping for the tip-off at midcourt. But honestly, if you actually watch a Denver Nuggets game for more than five minutes, you realize that calling him a "center" is like calling a Swiss Army knife a "screwdriver."
Technically true, but it misses the entire point of what he actually does.
The question of what position does Jokic play has become one of the most fascinating puzzles in basketball. We are currently in the 2025-26 season, and Jokic is once again hovering at the top of the MVP ladder, averaging nearly a triple-double with roughly 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game. He isn't just playing a position; he's running a system.
The Myth of the Traditional Center
In the old days—think the 90s—a center had a very specific job description. You stood near the basket. You blocked shots. You grabbed rebounds. If you were lucky, the point guard would throw you the ball so you could do a drop-step and a power layup.
Jokic doesn't do that. Well, he does, but it’s the least interesting part of his game.
Most centers wait for the ball to come to them. Nikola Jokic goes and gets it. It’s common to see him grab a defensive rebound and, instead of looking for a guard to hand it off to, he just starts sprinting down the court. He’s a one-man fast break. When a 280-pound man is dribbling at full speed toward your hoop while looking three steps ahead of everyone else on the floor, defenses panic.
Why he’s really a "Point Center"
The term people settled on is "Point Center." It sounds like a bit of a contradiction, right? A "point" is usually the smallest guy on the court, and the "center" is the biggest. By smashing them together, you get the most efficient offensive engine in league history.
Think about this: as of early 2026, Jokic leads the NBA in assists per game. Not just among centers. Among everyone. He has better court vision than almost any point guard in the world. He throws "no-look" passes that seem to bend around defenders like they’re in The Matrix.
Coach David Adelman, who has been steering the Nuggets' historic offensive rating this season, recently noted that the team’s spacing works because Jokic can be anywhere. He can be at the top of the key orchestrating a handoff, or he can be in the "dunkers spot" waiting for a lob.
The Serbian Roots of Positionless Basketball
You can’t talk about what position does Jokic play without looking at how he was raised in Serbia. Over there, the "Serbian Way" of coaching—pioneered by legends like Aleksandar Nikolic—doesn't believe in pigeonholing kids into positions because of their height.
📖 Related: Why Gary Woodland and the 2019 US Open Golf Championship Still Matter
When Jokic was a teenager, he wasn't allowed to just sit under the rim and wait for rebounds. He was taught to dribble. He was taught to pass. He was taught to read the game like a grandmaster reads a chessboard.
"At that age, they don't have positions. They need to know how to play face to the basket, side to the basket, back to the basket." — Former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic on the Serbian development system.
This upbringing is why Jokic looks so comfortable doing things that make other big men look clumsy. He has "pillowy" touch on his floaters and a three-point shot that he can hit from the deep corner. Earlier this season, he even set a personal record with 14 three-point attempts in a single game against Charlotte. A traditional center shouldn't be able to do that, but Jokic doesn't care about tradition.
What Position Does Jokic Play on Defense?
This is where it gets tricky. If he's a point guard on offense, what is he on defense?
He isn't a "rim protector" in the sense that he’s going to jump out of the gym and swat five shots into the third row. He’s more of a "space protector." Because he has some of the fastest hands in the league, he’s constantly top-10 in steals. He plays defense with his brain and his palms.
He uses his size to wall off the paint, but he’s also smart enough to "kick" the ball on purpose to stop a fast break—a stat where he routinely leads the league by a massive margin. It’s a legal way to reset the defense, and it’s purely cerebral.
The Stats Don't Lie
If you’re still skeptical about the "Point Center" label, just look at the numbers from this current 2025-26 stretch:
- Points: 29.6 (5th in the NBA)
- Rebounds: 12.2 (1st in the NBA)
- Assists: 11.0 (1st in the NBA)
- Efficiency: Over 60% from the field
He is literally the league's best rebounder and best playmaker simultaneously. That shouldn't be possible.
How the NBA Is Reacting
The league is currently scrambling to find "Jokic clones." Every GM in the 2025 draft was looking for a big man who could pass. But here’s the problem: you can’t just teach 20 years of Serbian basketball IQ in a summer league.
Players like Alperen Sengün or Domantas Sabonis are often called "Jokic-lite," but they still haven't reached that level of total offensive gravity. When Jokic is on the floor, the Nuggets' offense is a top-3 unit in NBA history. When he sits? They struggle to look like a playoff team. That is the definition of a "floor general," a role usually reserved for guys like Magic Johnson or Chris Paul.
What We Can Learn From the Joker
So, if you're coaching a kid or just trying to understand the modern game, the takeaway is simple. Positions are becoming obsolete.
The goal isn't to be a "Center" or a "Guard." The goal is to be a basketball player. Jokic is the ultimate proof that skill trumps athleticism. He doesn't jump high. He isn't the fastest guy on the court. But he is always in the right spot, and he always makes the right pass.
Practical Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the "Off-Ball" Movement: Next time you see the Nuggets play, don't watch the ball. Watch how Jokic moves defenders just by pointing or looking a certain way.
- Track the Triple-Doubles: Jokic is currently third all-time in triple-doubles. In 2026, he is on pace to potentially catch Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson if he stays healthy.
- Analyze the "Sombor Shuffle": Study his signature one-legged fadeaway. It’s a shot developed because of an injury, showing how he adapts his "position" based on what his body allows.
Ultimately, the answer to what position does Jokic play is "The Hub." He is the center of the universe for the Denver Nuggets, and as long as he’s on the floor, the old rules of basketball just don't apply.