NBA Today: 5 best passers in the league right now
During his appearance on the Inside Show last season, the great Oscar Robertson pointed a major(and often overlooked) glitch in the transitioning era of basketball.
"In our days, we couldn't kick out the ball to the three-point line and expect an assist. The game wasn't played that way. We had to always look out for someone who was moving towards the basket."
And his observation couldn't have been more spot on. Stacking up assists have become relatively easier in the current weather considering how drastically the game has spread from the paint towards the three-point line. With no credit stripped off the elite talent level of the new-age guards, the aforementioned transition is how the game is being played in all actuality.
However, the unique ability to get everyone involved and/or find the open man on the floor is something that will forever garner much-deserved respect. Dishing out dimes is basically shelling out what could have been one's own buckets. It reflects a mentality that is conducive to team wins on a consistent basis.
On that note, we take a look at the five best players who are currently dazzling crowds with their distinctive passing expertise.
#5 Nikola Jokic
For players who hope to make it big but are often overlooked in their initial years, Nikola Jokic might be the quintessential role model. Over the years, the seven-footer from Serbia has turned into a franchise cornerstone for the Denver Nuggets, and redefining the role of an NBA big man with every passing game.
His scoring and rebounding are synonymous with dominance in the paint, but what stands out the most, is his court vision. The 24-year-old recorded a career-high 7.3 assists per game last season, and is back to dropping almost 6 dimes per game this year as well. His passing wizardry cannot be left behind when it comes to rating quality passers in the league.
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Moreover, Jokic's high-IQ plays come in handy when spreading the floor and catching defenses off guard, making his presence at the center spot that much more impossible to guard.