The NBA’s pantheon is constantly shifting, and the “Bill Russell Scale” offers a unique, quantifiable lens through which to view player legacies. While Nikola Jokić steadily climbs the all-time ranks with his statistical dominance, the basketball world is witnessing a meteoric rise from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose recent MVP season has firmly established him as a future legend, sparking intense debate among fans about who truly defines “most valuable player.”
Welcome to onlytrustedinfo.com, where we delve deep into the legacies of NBA greats. Today, we’re dissecting the evolving careers of two of the league’s brightest stars, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, through the rigorous framework of the “Bill Russell Scale.” This innovative metric, designed to provide an “unbiased ranking of unassailable players,” offers fans a comprehensive look at how close careers come to perfection, using the legendary Bill Russell as the ultimate standard.
Understanding The Bill Russell Scale
The Bill Russell Scale distills a player’s entire career into a single score out of 100, where Bill Russell himself stands at a perfect 100. It considers a wide array of achievements, from MVPs and All-Star appearances to championships, Finals MVPs, and advanced statistics like Win Shares and Player Efficiency Rating (PER). Russell, who played 13 seasons, never finished lower than seventh in MVP voting, and secured an astonishing 11 championships, serves as the ultimate benchmark because his career embodies winning perfection, even if his individual scoring wasn’t record-breaking. For more details on the scale’s inception and methodology, you can read the full article on Yahoo Sports.
Nikola Jokić: A Polarizing All-Timer?
Currently ranked 7th among active players and 32nd all-time on the Bill Russell Scale with a score of 71.4, Nikola Jokić’s status as an all-timer is undeniable. His statistical output is often unprecedented for a center. In what was considered his greatest regular season thus far (referring to the 2024-25 season in an article dated October 2025), Jokić averaged 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game, shooting nearly 60% from the field. This made him the first center in NBA history to average a triple-double. The Denver Nuggets consistently secure top seeds when he plays, and they reportedly lose twice as many games without him, highlighting his immense value to the team.
Despite his staggering numbers and multiple MVP awards (he was the 2021-22 MVP, for instance, as detailed in the NBA Awards Voting records), Jokić often faces significant scrutiny from fans and analysts alike. Some critics argue that the media and the Nuggets franchise work to elevate his image, perhaps pushing for a fourth MVP title. Concerns frequently arise regarding his defensive limitations, with many pointing out his struggles on that end of the floor.
Beyond the stat sheet, Jokić has been criticized for decision-making in crucial moments and for his perceived leadership style. Incidents, such as a game against the Spurs where he reportedly ignored an open Jamal Murray for a contested shot, and a similar play against the Pelicans, fuel the narrative of selfish play. He has also been observed blaming teammates rather than taking accountability, once remarking, “I think that’s an error from all of us. It’s the whole team’s fault, because we should have advanced the ball and had a good position.” His coach, Mike Malone, has also drawn fire for seemingly elevating Jokić as “Superman” while downplaying the contributions of other players, a move that some believe has alienated members of the locker room.
These criticisms, though often passionate, reflect a broader fan debate about what truly constitutes a “Most Valuable Player.” While Jokić’s “static” game and controversial comments might divide opinions, his sustained statistical excellence and impact on team success continue to keep him firmly in the all-time conversation, even as others argue players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are “more complete.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A Rocket to the Pantheon
While Jokić’s legacy is built on consistent, dominant production over several years, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascent has been nothing short of explosive. His superstardom, as measured by the Bill Russell Scale, is relatively new, with his All-Star appearances only dating back to 2023. Yet, his performance in the recent 2024-25 NBA season has propelled him up the ranks at an unprecedented rate.
Gilgeous-Alexander was a statistical marvel last season, leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game and also topping the league in win shares with 16.7. More significantly, he captured both the regular-season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP awards, leading the OKC Thunder to a historic 68-win season—the best in franchise history. This dual MVP achievement is rare, placing him in an elite club of only 11 players in NBA history, alongside legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
His single-season score of 10.1 points on the Bill Russell Scale from that year alone places him second among dual MVP winners, just behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 1971 season (10.8 points). This rapid accumulation of legacy points is particularly noteworthy for a guard, surpassing many Hall of Famers like Yao Ming and Wes Unseld in a single season. At 27 years old, SGA has only just entered his prime, indicating a potential to climb much higher on the all-time list. One more season like his last could put him firmly among the 75 greatest ever, and two more could place him in the top 50.
The MVP Debate: Shai vs. Jokić and Voter Fatigue
The 2024-25 MVP race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić was one of the most competitive in league history. The lack of “hard-set criteria” for the MVP award means voters often weigh individual statistics against team success, leadership, and clutch performance. While Russell Westbrook’s 2017 MVP on a 6th-seed team was an exception, recent winners have typically led top-three conference seeds.
Many fans believe SGA polled better in the MVP race due to “voter fatigue” with Jokić. Despite Jokić’s extraordinary, virtually unmatched statistical season, his sustained dominance over several years may lead voters to take his achievements for granted. This phenomenon underscores how challenging it is to maintain MVP-level status in the eyes of the public and media year after year. As the Bill Russell Scale emphasizes, persistent excellence is the key to climbing the all-time ranks, a journey both Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander are navigating with fascinating, contrasting narratives.
Knocking on the Pantheon’s Door
Both Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo (ranked 28th all-time with 74.7 points) are on the cusp of entering the “pantheon” of players with over 80 points on the Bill Russell Scale, a club currently occupied by legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. Jokić added 7 points to his score last season, while Antetokounmpo added 4.2. This illustrates the increasing difficulty of accumulating points as one reaches higher echelons; once All-NBA and All-Star appearances are stacked, only consistent top-five MVP finishes and championships can propel a player further.
The journeys of Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander provide a compelling look at how legacies are forged in the NBA. Jokić’s unique skillset and consistent high-level play keep him in elite company, despite criticisms. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander’s breathtaking ascent promises an electrifying future, where his young career is already making historic waves. We, as fans, have the privilege of witnessing their ride unfold, redefining greatness with every game.
