How does Nikola Jokic's first 8-years in the NBA compare to two Lakers legends?

The Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic has been dominating the league since 2020, winning two MVP awards, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP, all that in the first eight seasons of his career. Still, he wasn't the best in the first 8 years in the careers of the Lakers legendary big men Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Best Stats on big men's first eight years in the league:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 29.5 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 3.5 BPG (4 Points)

2. Shaquille O’Neal - 27.5 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.7 BPG (3 Points)

3. Hakeem Olajuwon - 22.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 3.5 BPG (2 Points)

4. Nikola Jokic - 20.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG (1 Point)

No legendary NBA big man in this comparison had a better start to their career in terms of stats than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In his first eight seasons with the Bucks and Lakers, Kareem would be elite on both sides of the ball, averaging 29.5 points per game on 54.8% shooting and four seasons above 30.0 points per game. His defensive output was elite as well as one of two players in this comparison averaging over 1.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.

Shaquille O’Neal was also a two-time scoring champion in his first eight seasons with the Magic and Lakers. His immediate production upon arrival in the NBA and his scoring dominance make him the easy selection for second-place points on this list as well as his 12.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

Playoff success in their first eight seasons

*Every round advancement is worth one point

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 2 NBA Finals, 3 Conference Finals, 2 Semifinals (4 Points)

2. Shaquille O’Neal - 2 NBA Finals, 2 Conference Finals, 2 Semifinals, 1 First Round (3 Points)

3. Nikola Jokic - 1 NBA Finals, 1 Conference Finals, 2 Semifinals, 1 First Round (2 Points)

4. Hakeem Olajuwon - 1 NBA Finals, 1 Semifinal, 5 First Rounds (1 Point)

Shaq and Kareem were also better in NBA championships and Finals appearances

Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stand above their competitors in a comparison of NBA championships and Finals appearances category. O’Neal appeared in the 1995 NBA Finals with the Magic, an appearance that ended in a sweep for Houston led by Hakeem Olajuwon. He would claim his first of three straight championships in his eighth season with the Lakers in 2000. Kareem would advance to and win his first NBA title in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks, claiming Finals MVP honors in the series. He would also advance to the 1974 NBA Finals with Milwaukee but fall to the Boston Celtics.