Home Basketball ‘Nobody can guard Nikola 1-on-1’ – Michael Malone Sends Message to NBA With Candid Nikola Jokić Take

‘Nobody can guard Nikola 1-on-1’ – Michael Malone Sends Message to NBA With Candid Nikola Jokić Take

Basketball — 04/14/2024

Nikola Jokić may have won his third MVP award on Wednesday with a strong performance against one of the NBA’s greatest defensive teams.

Rudy Gobert's big night lifts Timberwolves past Hawks and into a first-place tie in the West

In a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, “The Joker” scored 41 points on 16-of-20 shooting, adding 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and three steals.

Jokic had an easy night on offense, using his strength to bulldoze Wolves big man Naz Reid to get around and through Rudy Gobert. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year frequently appeared perplexed by Jokic’s physicality and ability to find angles around his vertical defense.

Final MVP check-in of the season: can Nikola Jokic hang on?

Following the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone provided an eye-popping appraisal of Jokic. Malone commended Gobert to Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports, but was honest about any player’s prospects of stopping Jokic.

“Rudy Gobert is going to be a Hall of Fame player someday. He’ll be remembered as one of the best defenders of his generation… Nobody can guard Nikola one-on-one…Here in Denver, we know what we have. We have the top player in the world.”

Jokic seemed unconcerned by everything the Wolves threw at him. And, true to Jokic’s personality, he dismissed it after the game, telling Wind that it was “probably” simply “one of those nights.”

Jokic May Have Won Another MVP

It’s hard to find reasons not to vote for Jokic as MVP this season.

Watch: Rudy Gobert gets away with possible suspension after slapping Nikola Jokic in the face

As of Thursday morning, the Nuggets had the best record in the West, at 56-24.

In his title defense season, Jokic is averaging 26.6 points per game (the second highest of his career), 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists, with shooting splits of 58-36-81. He also leads the NBA in PER, Win Shares, Box Score Plus/Minus (according to Basketball-Reference), and Value Over Replacement Player (VORP).

Some NBA fans may favor awarding MVP to Luka Dončić or recognizing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s unexpected success, citing voter weariness.

While those two are undoubtedly deserving candidates, it’s difficult to disagree with Malone’s assessment: Jokic is the finest player in the world. At least one MVP voter has had enough.

If Jokic wins a third MVP award, he will enter unprecedented territory. If the Nuggets can repeat as champs — a big if, considering the league’s depth this year — it will be time to evaluate Jokic’s status among the greatest players of all time, not just in the world.