Nikola Jokic tells me “For winning a championship, you need a team, and you need the guys to step up in the right moment.”
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Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is on the heels of what most expect to be another deep playoff run. Having won an NBA title in 2023, Jokic knew what it would takeffor the Denver Nuggets to again reach the pinnacle of the NBA this season.
According to Jokic, the team must show they have players who can deliver in their roles consistently and are unfazed by the playoff pressure.
“We need everybody for the playoffs,” Jokic said in an interview via Jake Shapiro. “For winning a championship, you need a team, and you need the guys to step up at the right moment.”
“Definitely, everybody needs to step up and if it’s not your night, it’s okay. The next one is coming. I think we need everybody,” he added.
Nikola Jokic tells me “For winning a championship, you need a team, and you need the guys to step up in the right moment.”
Jokic has been seen as the barometer of the Nuggets’ success in the playoffs. Alongside him are also battle-tested players such as Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon, all of whom have played alongside Jokic in previous playoff runs.
The Nuggets, whose squad finished as the third seed in the Western Conference, also added bench pieces such as Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and Tim Hardaway Jr., while developing Spencer Jones as a capable 3-and-D player alongside Cameron Johnson.
They will be facing the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. The two squads faced off in the 2024 playoffs, where the Timberwolves dethroned the Nuggets in seven grueling games following Denver’s 2023 NBA championship run.
Last year, the Nuggets also endured two Game 7s, ultimately falling to the eventual champions OKC Thunder, in the second round.
GettyAnthony Edwards set to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Jokic-led Denver Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves know each other too well not to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
For Jokic, the biggest threat from the Timberwolves will be Anthony Edwards, whom he commended for his on-ball creation, which has given the Nuggets great problems in the past.
“His change of pace, his ability to finish the ball, his ability to shoot the ball, his great separation — he’s so talented,” Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, said. “And [he has] an ability to make tough shots. So he’s definitely one of the hardest offensive players to guard. He can do a post-up. He can do a midrange. He’s really good 1-on-1.”
Edwards averaged 28.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on 39.9% shooting from the 3-point line in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Jokic averaged a triple-double this season, putting up 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game for the Nuggets.
GettyDenver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves face off again in a playoff series.
As the higher-seeded squad, the Nuggets will enjoy homecourt advantage in their Round 1 clash with the Timberwolves.
Game 1 will be on Saturday, April 18, at 1:30 pm Denver time. Game 2 will then be on Monday, April 20, still in Denver.
The series will swing to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4, which will happen on Thursday, April 23, and Saturday, April 25.
If necessary, Game 5 will be on April 27, Game 6 on April 30, and Game 7 on May 2.
Rob Andrew Lo Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler. A Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda. More about Rob Andrew Lo
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