Nikola Jokic discusses toughest centers he faces in NBA competition
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 11:29 AM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic identified several NBA players he considers difficult to face in a recent interview on the Jao Mile Podcast. While acknowledging his successful individual history against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Jokic praised Gobert as a great defender. He also named Ivica Zubac, Jusuf Nurkic, Jalen Duren, Wendell Carter Jr., and Myles Turner as challenging opponents, noting that some centers possess a physical bulk that complicates his positioning. In the same discussion, Jokic rejected his status as a role model for youth, attributing his professional work ethic to the influence of former teammates Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, and Mike Miller. Jokic credited those early mentors for helping him develop the daily gym routines he maintains as a three-time league MVP.
- •Nikola Jokic identified Rudy Gobert, Ivica Zubac, and Jusuf Nurkic as difficult defensive matchups.
- •Jokic cited the size and physical strength of certain centers as the primary challenge for his play style.
- •The Nuggets center credited Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, and Mike Miller as influential early mentors.
- •Jokic declined to label himself a role model, citing the primary influence of family and friends on young people.
- 11:29 AMYahoo Sports — Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Gets 100% Honest on His Matchup With Rudy Gobert Throughout the Years
"Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was asked about his toughest matchups throughout the years, and the three-time league MVP used the opportunity to praise some of his fellow NBA centers. In a recent episode of the Jao Mile Podcast, the Denver Nuggets center took a humble approach when naming some of his top defenders, including [...]
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