Since making his NBA debut nearly a decade ago, Nikola Jokic has dazzled basketball fans with his accurate shooting, pinpoint passing, skilled footwork and sound defensive ability. On Friday, the three-time league MVP showed off his basketball IQ and left opponents Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert stunned after he predicted the Minnesota Timberwolves playcall coming out of a timeout.
According to Edwards, the incident took place with approximately three minutes left in the fourth quarter. After coming out of a timeout, Edwards and Gobert were perplexed when they realized Jokic seemed to know the exact play they were running. Following the game, Edwards spoke about the bizzare situation with the press.
"That n***a cheating bro," the Wolves All-Star joked.
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Rudy Gobert provided his own views on Jokic's ability to read the opposition:
"Jokic knew the play but we didn't say anything. He knew the play better than us. We didn't say nothing."
This was a thrilling contest between two of the Western Conference's most talented rosters. Minnesota led going into the half but relinquished its lead and trailed by 10 points (114-104) with under 3:30 left in the fourth quarter. The game remained close but a spirited late-game rally, and two clutch baskets from Edwards, saw the home team pull away to secure a 119-116 victory.
This was not the first time a Jokic-led Nuggets team suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Edwards, Gobert and the Timberwolves. The two teams met in the Western Conference semifinals last season and a remarkable Game 7 performance saw Minnesota eliminate Denver in a riveting series.
Nikola Jokic enters the 2024-25 season aiming to win his fourth MVP title in five years
Nikola Jokic enters his 10th season in the NBA as one of the early favorites for the league MVP award. The Serbian center has dominated the voting over the last four years, winning three of the four MVP awards between 2021-2024.
Jokic won his first MVP title after averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists over the 2020-21 campaign. He somehow managed to top those incredible numbers when he recorded 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists over the 2021-22 season. Earlier this year, Jokic secured his third MVP crown, defeating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic in the voting.
After five games this season, Nikola Jokic is once again off to a flying start. The 6-foot-11 big man leads the Nuggets roster in ppg (30.4), rebounds (11.6), assists (10.0), steals (1.60), FG% (56.1) and minutes (39.2).
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