Caleb Wilson names Nikola Jokic as favourite NBA star for reason few prospects would give

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Caleb Wilson is already one of the most interesting names in the 2026 NBA Draft class, with top-five expectations before his professional career begins.

The six foot ten power forward is viewed as a likely No. 4 pick for Chicago, a projection that underlines his talent and appeal.

Injuries disrupted his college season, but Wilson still averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. And despite not being a center, he has named Nikola Jokic as his favourite player in the league.

Caleb Wilson says Nikola Jokic was his favourite before the MVP years

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Wilson’s admiration for Jokic is not a late response to the Denver Nuggets star becoming one of the greatest big men the NBA has seen.

The 19-year-old said the Serb was already his favourite player before winning his first MVP award in 2021, and the reason behind it is revealing.

He told the press (via DNVR Nuggets) “I really like Jokic. He was my favourite player, even before his MVP. I really like how he plays. I wasn’t really that athletic when I was younger, believe it or not.”

Most young forwards were expected to point to explosiveness, scoring flair or defensive dominance, but Wilson saw something different in Jokic.

He admired a player who controlled games without relying on elite athletic tools. For a prospect, that says plenty about how Wilson sees the game.