Draymond Praises This Rival Center as Most Mentally Tough Player in NBA

Toughness in basketball can show up in many ways. Often, it means you can take a hit, dive on the floor, or set a hard screen without flinching. However, the mental toughness of a player may be even more important than the physical toughness. How do you respond after you’ve missed a few easy shots? Can other teams or defenses get in your head? The best players in the league aren’t just physically tough, but they are mentally unflappable. 

So who are the most mentally tough players in the league? Draymond Green went on his podcast and named Nikola Jokic the most mentally tough player in the league. 

“There is nothing that really gets under his skin. There’s nothing that bothers him. Him if he’s missing shots, he’s going to keep playing. You never see him. You know, Joker kind of run like this anyway. So, you know, his shoulders are always slump, but you don’t never see him like in a defeated slump. Like he’s just always going to keep going.”

When you look at Jokic’s body or playing style, the word “tough” doesn’t come to mind right away. He is a bit pudgy, he kind of trots around, using finesse and touch rather than brute force to dominate opponents. 

However, what makes Jokic so special is his mental toughness. Being able to stay focused and calm, despite other teams doing everything they can to stop you, is a great skill. And when the lights are brightest? Jokic is the same. This is the mental toughness it takes to be one of the greatest players of all time.