T-Wolves playfully cry foul on Nikola Jokic: ‘Launch an investigation’
May 16, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game one of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic left Minnesota Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert stunned on Friday night, leading the pair to call for an investigation, albeit playfully.
With just over 6:00 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves coming out of a timeout, Jokic pulled an ace from his sleeve and alerted his teammates to the play that was coming. While that’s not entirely unheard of if a player hears the call, Jokic hadn’t. And that’s because no one on the court vocalized it.
A shocked Gobert watched helplessly as Jokic prepared the Nuggets for exactly what was coming. A few seconds later, Aaron Gordon stepped in front of an Jaden McDaniels pass for the steal.
Although the Timberwolves would rally and ultimately secure a 119-116 victory, Edwards and Gobert couldn’t help but to marvel at Jokic’s basketball IQ following the game.
“That was crazy. We have a spy on the bench,” Gobert said, via SneakerReporter. “Jokic knew the play but we didn’t say anything. He knew the play better than us.”
“Nobody said nothing,” Edwards yelled from a nearby locker.
Edwards apologized for interrupting reporters but couldn’t stop himself from expressing amazement over what had transpired.
“It was (six) minutes left in the fourth,” he said. “Right after the timeout, me and Rudy lined up and this motherf—-r said (inaudible). How the f–k did he know? That (expletive) is cheating, bro.”
“Yeah, we’ve got to launch an investigation,” Gobert said shaking his head.
It’s not the first time the Joker has called out a play before it happened. During a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors back in 2022, Jokic alerted his team to an inbound lob that lead to a Nuggets takeaway.
Jokic. Basketball genius.
