Anthony Edwards Says Nikola Jokic is 'Gonna Flop,' Reveals Advice to Rudy Gobert in Wolves' Win
Minnesota Timberwolves superstar guard Anthony Edwards recalled a conversation he had with teammate Rudy Gobert before the veteran center shut down Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić in the fourth quarter of the T-Wolves' win in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Monday.
After Minnesota came from behind to beat Denver 119-114 and even up the series, Edwards told reporters that he implored Gobert to guard Jokić one-on-one, while also warning Gobert about Jokić's "flopping" tendencies:
"I told him, like, we ain't bringing no double team," Edwards said. "You're gonna guard him one-on-one all night. And stop fouling, stop going for the reach-in because he's gonna flop and they're gonna call a foul. So just play him straight up. If he makes a shot over you, cool, that's what he do. He gets paid to make those shots."
Edwards called for people to "put some respect" on Gobert's name after the 7'1" Frenchman held Jokić to just two fourth-quarter points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Per ESPN's Anthony Slater, Jokić shot just 1-of-8 for the game when going up against Gobert in one-on-one matchups, marking the worst shooting performance of Jokić's playoff career against a single defender.
While Jokić managed 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in the contest, he shot just 8-of-20 from the field and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, which is well below the three-time NBA MVP's usual standards.
As for Gobert, he is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and he showed why during Monday's victory.
Now, the series shifts back to Minnesota tied 1-1, as the Timberwolves attempt to eliminate the Nuggets from the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons.
