Nuggets star Nikola Jokic’s classy feelings on potential Timberwolves rivalry

The NBA hierarchy continues to undergo drastic change from year to year in what has been a surreal age of parity for the sport. Though, Denver Nuggets fans are not interested in considering the effect that their postseason exit has on the product as a whole. It will take them a while to recover from an excruciating 98-90 Game 7 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But listening to Nikola Jokic should be somewhat therapeutic. The three-time MVP, who is not known to be the most outspoken superstar, has a knack for finding the exact words the Mile-High City needs to hear. Whether he is comedic, poignant or just brutally honest, the Serbian center’s postgame thoughts are thoroughly appreciated by his fan base.

Jokic’s recent comments should delight Minnesota as well. When asked if the Timberwolves can be a long-term rival for the Nuggets, the 2023 Finals MVP showered Sunday’s victors with complete praise.

“I think they’re built to beat us,” Jokic told the media, via ClutchPoints. “Just look at their roster. They have basically two All-Stars, two probably {All-Defensive First-Team} players, Mike Conley {Jr.}, who is the most underrated player in the NBA probably…From the bench, they have {Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid}. They have {Kyle Anderson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker}…One team that can do literally everything.”

This classy response properly acknowledges the talent, chemistry and mental toughness that has come to define this history-seeking Wolves squad, but it also gives the basketball-watching world plenty of reasons to be excited for the future.

Will the West go through the Nuggets and Timberwolves going forward?

The Dallas Mavericks cannot be brushed aside in this conversation. They are appearing in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three years and boast one of the most remarkable offensive talents the game has ever known. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also primed to contend for a title in the years to come. That being said, the Nuggets and Timberwolves could be positioned to become the West’s most compelling rivalry.

In fact, they might already be there. These two franchises have brought the best out of each other over the last two years. Although the first-round series in last year’s NBA Playoffs went just five games, Minnesota battled Denver admirably in defeat. Anthony Edwards and company built off that encouraging effort and launched up the standings this past season. The lessons they learned in their failures helped them succeed in this pivotal showdown.

Now, it is the Nuggets’ turn to grow stronger from defeat. The wounds suffered from a crushing Game 7 loss at home obviously takes longer than other postseason pitfalls, but the 2023 champions should vividly remember blowing a 20-point lead until they have a chance to avenge the outcome. Naturally, this pursuit of redemption begins with Nikola Jokic.

Despite struggling mightily from 3-point range (2-of-10 on Sunday), the 29-year-old big man posted an overall superb performance in Game 7. He recorded 34 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists, but it was not enough to extinguish the Timberwolves’ perpetually burning flame.

Rest assured, however, because Jokic, Jamal Murray and the entire Denver organization are determined to remain fixtures in this conference. This history-making loss can be the catalyst for a 2024-25 Nuggets’ rejuvenation, not to mention a classic rivalry with the best defensive team in the league.