Robbie Avila, a sophomore from Indiana who is 2m08 tall and weighs 115kg, is creating a fever in NCAA Division I. This season, Avila averaged 14.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. created every game for the Sycamores.
Not only does Avila have comprehensive parameters, he also attracts attention thanks to his playing style quite similar to Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. He became a phenomenon on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter with the nickname “College Jokic”, meaning “College Jokic”.
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Anyone who watches Avila play will recognize his similarities with Jokic, both in terms of body shape and playing style. At first glance, both of them do not possess the physiques of professional athletes, but they are smart and have a very good sense of the ball and space.
Avila’s college coach Josh Schertz told reporters: “Avila is extremely smart. He can rebound and open up a dangerous counterattack. Avila is also good at three-point shooting, and has basketball IQ. Unbelievably high”.
Normally, it is difficult for big-men to have impressive passing skills like Avila. And those passes are inspired by two top NBA stars, Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis
And for Avila, Jokic is also a role model that he wants to aspire to: “I always watch Jokic. He is a comprehensive big-man who can play both inside and outside, and his creativity is something I try to learn. Obviously I’m not as good as Jokic, but for me, being compared to him is an honor.”
Avila considers himself a combination of Jokic, Sabonis and Kevin Love, because he can play well both inside and outside, can hit wide and knows how to throw the ball. Avila shot a 43.2% clip from the three-point line, and a 56.2% field goal percentage, the highest at the college level.
Despite comparisons with the two-time NBA MVP superstar, Avila remains modest when evaluating his performances: “My strengths are creating space thanks to my height and coordination ability.” ball. But my physical condition is not very good, and it can cause me injury. I have to use my strength to compensate for my weakness, but I can’t do that forever. I can’t jump high and need to move quickly more, I have to try harder”.
Avila knows he doesn’t look like a typical college athlete, but he sees it as an advantage. Avila has honed his footwork over the years and turned it into his powerful weapon. The ability to move his feet flexibly helps Avila create many surprises for opponents, thereby opening up space for himself or his teammates.
Avila is very proud of the attention he receives on social networks, but he does not want to let it affect his identity. The NBA is his future goal and the Sycamores player is doing his best to get closer to that dream.
Avila hopes to one day represent Mexico, as his father is of Mexican descent. He is still trying and waiting for the day he has the opportunity to play for the national team. However, the 21-year-old player is prioritizing the development of his maximum potential.
Finally, when asked if he wanted to keep the College Jokic nickname, Avila said: “Obviously, I can’t say no to that nickname.”
