Rudy Gobert has faced Nikola Jokic countless times in the West, and he still finds himself in awe of what the Nuggets superstar can do. Speaking on The Young Man & The Three podcast, the Timberwolves center explained why he’s grateful for the challenge of going up against Jokic.
“When I wake up and I get to play Jokic, I am always grateful that I get to try to stop one of the best players in the world," Gobert said on the "Young Man & The Three.'
From Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, there have been many great centers throughout NBA history, and Jokic has put himself among them. While he may not look the part, Jokic is a generational talent, and his way of thinking about the game makes him especially unique.
"The way his brain works, the way he is able to adapt to situations, and most of the time make the right play, and doing it while tired, doing it while playing a lot of minutes," Gobert added. " I think that's what makes him unique."
Jokic is 11-7 in the playoffs against Gobert, going back to his days with the Utah Jazz. As a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, if anyone should be able to stop Jokic, it's Gobert, but he has yet to find a way to contain his impact. In fact, Jokic is almost impossible to guard, and it's the mark of an all-time great.
Unlike the great centers who came before him, Jokic isn't particularly athletic, and he doesn't have the brute strength of Shaq or Wilt. Still, he's able to dominate on the court with his soft touch around the rim, elite ball-handling ability, and heightened basketball IQ.
What separates Jokic from most big men is his natural ability to initiate the offense and raise the ceiling of his teammates to an impressive degree. On the Nuggets, Jokic does it all for them offensively, serving as their anchor and centerpiece around whom everyone plays. The result is a massive difference between when he's on the floor and on the bench.
Whether you love him or hate him, Jokic's game is undeniably effective, with a championship and three MVPs to prove it. Last season, coming off his third MVP, Jokic put up one of his best seasons yet with averages of 29.6 points (career-high), 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game on 57.6% shooting.
As it stands, Jokic is probably the biggest example in the NBA of how mental mastery of the game can often be more effective than those with physical gifts. While Jokic has both, his greatest edge comes from his mind, much like LeBron James, whose IQ has carried him for over two decades.
Gobert may be one of the best defenders of his generation, but even he admits Jokic is a puzzle nobody has solved. If anything, it only makes the rivalry more compelling, because watching the best try to stop the best is what NBA basketball is all about.
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