Rudy Gobert praises Nikola Jokic ahead of their playoff showdown.
For the third time in four seasons, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet in the playoffs.
In 2023, the two squads met in the first round of the playoffs with the Nuggets winning 4-1 en route to an NBA Championship. The following season, the Nuggets had a 3-2 lead in the second round against the Timberwolves, but Minnesota stormed back to win the series in seven to knock off the defending champions.
They took a break from battle last year, with both teams losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who went on to win the NBA Title.
This year, the rivalry renews.
Rudy Gobert Praises Nikola Jokic
Having battled against him in 12 playoff games in the past three years, and countless regular season games, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert knows what to expect when he faces Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
"I think he’s a winner, whatever he does, he plays to win. He’s selfless, he tries to make the right play every time… I like his humility, I think he’s someone that doesn’t really care about the outside noise, he’s just here to show up, help his team win, and go home. I like that, I respect that," Gobert told the media.
Jokic has won plenty in his career, including three MVPs, a Finals MVP, and an NBA Championship.
Gobert might not have the post-season success of Jokic, but he is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Gobert vs. Jokic
Before Gobert joined the Timberwolves, he and Jokic battled in the 2020 playoffs when Gobert was a member of the Jazz.
Jokic and the Nuggets were victorious in seven games in that series.
Jokic averaged 26.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in the series. In 2023, Jokic put up similar scoring numbers but was more effective with his passing and rebounding, averaging 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists.
In the only series in which Gobert was able to get the better of Jokic, the three-time MVP increased his scoring to 29 points in seven games, but his rebounds dropped to 11.4 per game, and his assists were at 7.9 per game.
In further credit to Gobert, he's held Jokic to an effective field goal percentage of 54% in the last two series, below his career playoff average of 56%.
The first round series between the Nuggets and Timberwolves begins on Saturday with Game One in Denver.