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<\/p>\nDuring a lively debate on Inside NBA, the conversation turned to one of this season\u2019s hottest topics: who\u2019s better, Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama?<\/p>\n
Legendary Charles Barkley had no hesitation when asked who would get the MVP award if it were decided today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the Joker is doing\u2026 You know, there\u2019s one thing in sports \u2014 you can\u2019t take anything for granted. He (Jokic) is the best basketball player in the world. Every game, he\u2019s posting a triple-double, and it\u2019s not a ten-point, ten-rebound, ten-assist triple-double\u2026 These are huge numbers: 25, 16, 17,\u201d said Barkley.<\/p>\n
Shaquille O\u2019Neal interrupted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate when you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what?\u201d Barkley replied, surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree with everything you said about the Joker, but don\u2019t underestimate everything Wembi is doing,\u201d Shaq warned.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m not doing that, everything I say\u2026\u201d Barkley started, but Shaq cut him off again.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir teams have the same record so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny Smith also joined the debate:<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir impact is the same, their impact on wins is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neal continued pressing Barkley:<\/p>\n
\u201cWembi is playing basketball from another planet right now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s playing great,\u201d Barkley agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the same record, Chuck,\u201d Shaq insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, they\u2019re not the same animals,\u201d Barkley fired back.<\/p>\n
\u201cSan Antonio is 8\u20132, Denver is 8\u20132, come on Chuck,\u201d Shaq challenged.<\/p>\n
For Barkley, the real debate wasn\u2019t Jokic vs. Wembanyama, but Jokic vs. Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, they have the same number of wins (Jokic and Wembi), but if we had to choose an MVP now \u2014 although I think it\u2019s too early \u2014 the debate is between the Joker and Luka,\u201d Barkley explained.<\/p>\n
Smith and Shaq then asked him to rank them with a hand gesture, from top to bottom.<\/p>\n
\u201cJokic, Luka, Wembi,\u201d Barkley went from top to bottom, leaving a bigger gap between Luka and Wembi than between Jokic and Luka \u2014 which shocked both of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re tripping,\u201d said both Shaq and Kenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I\u2019d give Luka the MVP or I\u2019d give it to Jokic, not Wembi,\u201d Barkley added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd where\u2019s the current MVP \u2014 Jay?\u201d asked Ernie Johnson, joining the discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s below Wembi,\u201d Barkley shot back immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201c11\u20131 below Wembi?\u201d Johnson asked incredulously.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all great, but he still has a long way to go. What Luka is doing, what Jokic is doing\u2026\u201d Barkley began, reiterating his point that Jokic is the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what Wembi is doing,\u201d added Shaq.<\/p>\n
Finally, Barkley concluded:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to give Jokic credit because he\u2019s better compared to you. The Joker would destroy you.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neal didn\u2019t shy away from reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just saying I agree with you, but don\u2019t discredit what Wembi is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
“We just take [Nikola Joki\u0107] for granted, he is the best basketball player in the world.”\ud83d\udc4f <\/p>\n
Charles Barkley explains why Joki\u0107 has the edge over Wemby to start the season \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/1pMa1Yqaex<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 12, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n
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