Adebayo reveals the challenge and respect earned from guarding MVP Nikola Jokic, even after a dominant Miami Heat victory.
The Miami Heat continue to relight a lost spark after earning a third consecutive victory on Monday night, Dec. 29th, this time against the Denver Nuggets. They were in control for a majority of the game and finished with a final score of 147-123. Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaqeuz Jr. were spectacular, combining for 42 points, including six three-pointers made, five of which came from the Serbian forward.
The moment that momentum shifted in the Heat's favor was right after the first half, when superstar Nikola Jovic suffered a left hyperextended knee injury. He wouldn't return and finished with a team-high 21 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in 19 minutes. There's no doubt that the three-time MVP was on pace to record another triple-double, which would've been his 17th on the season, currently leading the league with 16. It's by a long shot as Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey follows up with seven.
Regardless, it's difficult to slow down the former Finals MVP, even for the best defenders, such as Bam Adebayo. The five-time All-Defensive center has done his best when assigned with Jokic, but never found the answer to how bother him. The seven-time All-Star is impactful as a scorer and facilitator. Whether defenders take away one aspect, he finds ways to impact the game with his other arsenal.
Adebayo alluded to the "fun" of facing Jokic following the Heat's victory.
"You see how he makes his teammates better," the three-time All-Star said. "One thing I like about it is the competition. He's one of those guys that doesn't really flop, foul-baiting. It's respect at the end of the day."
That could be interpreted as a shot at Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who is notoriously known for excessively selling contact for free throws.
The matchup between Adebayo and Jokic was actually highlighted during the 2023 NBA Finals, in which the Nuggets secured their first-ever championship in franchise history after five games. The Serbian superstar averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 58.3 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from behind the arc throughout that series. It's a difficult task guarding him because he plays on his own pace and doesn't get bothered, hardly ever at all.
There is nobody in the league who can be known as the "Jokic stopper," not even Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who's won four Defensive Player of the Year awards. Adebayo never shies away from the challenge and knows it comes with the job.
More Miami Heat News: