Aaron Gordon on Nikola Jokic: 'He's a genius and happens to play basketball'

Aaron Gordon on Nikola Jokic: 'He's a genius and happens to play basketball'

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Aaron Gordon on Nikola Jokic: 'He's a genius and happens to play basketball'

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What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
This has become a Nikola Jokic staple: Nothing doing on the possession, then boom. He sprints to a spot, gets the ball, and overpowers you to the rim. pic.twitter.com/ywzAmqK0jE4:25 AM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
This has become a Nikola Jokic staple: Nothing doing on the possession, then boom. He sprints to a spot, gets the ball, and beats you to the rim. pic.twitter.com/4Z1fJjAwH14:23 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
“We need to trust what we are doing and don’t get bored with success” – Nikola Jokic after pushing the Nuggets to a commanding 3-0 lead against the Lakers
#NBAPlayoffs #EuroWatch
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…4:00 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
When Game 3 ended. Late 3rd quarter
Nuggets force the miss, Nikola Jokic sprints away from Anthony Davis in transition, gets the offensive rebound and-1 with Davis nowhere to be seen.
Then, Jokic huddles his team together. pic.twitter.com/j6ylBGEdVh3:53 AM

Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
Tonight, Nikola Jokic delivered a straight BAR, and my favorite quote of the #Nuggets season: “Winning is a lifestyle.” Yep, it is. This team hunts and destroys and does it without ego, and I couldn’t be more happy and proud that they do it repping the Mile High City. – 3:13 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Aaron Gordon: “Joker’s a basketball genius. I mean, he’s just a genius and happens to play basketball.” pic.twitter.com/siS4o5HLXj2:19 AM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Aaron Gordon: “Joker’s a basketball genius. He’s just a genius and happens to play basketball.” pic.twitter.com/kjsuKBWXEl2:18 AM

Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
“Winning is a lifestyle for us,” Nikola Jokic says of fighting off complacency. – 1:51 AM
Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
“He’s just a genius and happens to play basketball,” Aaron Gordon on Nikola Jokic. – 1:42 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Will Nikola Jokic retire LeBron James? 🙈 pic.twitter.com/bccvqofkAF1:34 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Nikola Jokic got that post-game interview swagger after being up 3-0 against the Lakers 😎
pic.twitter.com/U9BNddrIfn1:17 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Nikola Jokic cooked the Lakers once again, and now the Nuggets are up 3-0 in the series 😏
24 PTS
9-13 FGM
15 REB
9 AST
11th straight win to LAL ✅
pic.twitter.com/IAbJNRST6E1:13 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Nikola Jokic is on another level when it comes to interviews. He’s chilling 😂
pic.twitter.com/mDoGKMu24h1:09 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
How would you rate this Nikola Jokic fit ahead of the Nuggets-Lakers Game 3? 💯🥵
📸 @nuggets pic.twitter.com/AlM9YyZyDA1:05 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
How would you rate this Nikola Jokic fit ahead of the Nuggets-Lakers Game 3? 💯🥵 pic.twitter.com/HrVUYtV3SK1:04 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jokic after the win 😭
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/HHn8Pt8YuG12:53 AM

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Another game against the Lakers. Another Winner’s Lounge. Let’s go!!!
✅ Aaron Gordon dominates
✅ Sweep on deck
✅ Pathetic quit from the Lakers
youtube.com/live/tZzB5ZKZt… pic.twitter.com/aIl5EO04gd12:52 AM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
At the 2021 trade deadline, Tim Connelly scoured the rest of the league for the Nuggets’ missing piece and best available frontcourt option next to Nikola Jokic. He landed on Aaron Gordon. He was the exact championship piece that this core needed and proved it again tonight. – 12:43 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Denver’s starting front-court of Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. had 40 rebounds.
The Lakers had 38 as a team. – 12:43 AM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
112-105 Nuggets take 3-0 lead. Jokic with 24-15-9. Gordon with 29-15. Game 4, Saturday night – 12:42 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Final Rotations for the Nuggets as they defeat the Lakers 112-105 to take Game 3.
Aaron Gordon: 29 points, 15 rebounds, his BEST postseason game of his career
Nikola Jokic: 24-15-9, casual greatness
Michael Porter Jr.: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists
3-0… pic.twitter.com/PaxaTaMgO212:41 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Jokic tonight:
24 PTS
15 REB
9 AST
9-13 FG
11 straight wins against the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/t4redzvENv12:38 AM

Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Jokic has the best timing I’ve ever seen from a basketball player.
If he needs to move a half second early to beat a double team from finding him in the post, he does it.
If he needs to wait a half second on a pass to see where a rotating defender goes, he finds the open man. – 12:32 AM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
3x in the last few mins Jokic has outhustled Davis with a cut for an easy look. He usually has more at the end of games, but particularly tonight when he hasn’t been relied upon to create as much offense. – 12:31 AM
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
AD is a great defender, and Jokic has just destroyed him. – 12:30 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Anthony Davis, please get out of Nikola Jokic’s way and get ready to prevent a sweep on Saturday. – 12:28 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Joker’s got 18 points and the Nuggets are cruising. – 12:23 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron & AD = 53 points
Jokic & Murray = 40 points
Rest of Lakers starters = 17 points
Rest of Nuggets starters = 49 points – 12:22 AM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Nuggets +3 when Jokic sat. Lakers can’t win like that. – 12:17 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Michael Porter Jr. is 4 for 4 in the 4th Q, mostly on contested jumpers. He has 18 points, to go with Gordon’s 24, Murray’s 22 and Jokic’s 16.
Nuggets lead 97-86 with 6:43 to play. – 12:14 AM
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
Unless Jokic has an early retirement… Lebron will never win another title – 12:12 AM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Jokic on bench, LeBron AND Anthony Davis on the floor for the Lakers for the first 3 minutes and 16 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Nuggets win the minutes by 3. – 12:11 AM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Jokic back in at 8:44 with a 10 point lead? Malone wants this Game 3 real bad – needs his closer out there. – 12:11 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Lakers down 11 and Joker comes back in has to be extremely deflating. – 12:10 AM
Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
This Just In: Charles Barkley says Aaron Gordon is the second most underrated player he has seen over the last decade… – 12:09 AM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
LeBron and AD both out there with Jokic out, Lakers must make a push here. – 12:05 AM
Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Nuggets lead 83-75 after three. Denver led by as many as 12 in the quarter.
Gordon leads Denver with 24 and 12. Jokic with 16-11-8. Murray adds 20 points.
Anthony Davis has 30 and 11 for the Lakers. – 12:02 AM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Nuggets lead 83-75 after 3. Gordon has been a monster with 24-12, Jokic with 16-11-8. Davis with 30-11. Laker starting guards, 4-18 – 12:01 AM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
The Aaron Gordon game is beautiful, I gotta say. – 11:59 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Aaron Gordon is a serious problem cover for the Lakers. Rui isn’t always attentive enough and he’s very tough for LeBron to match from an energy/activity perspective. AK – 11:59 PM
Katy Winge @katywinge
SIX dunks for Aaron Gordon, a new career playoff high, and we still have a quarter of basketball to play – 11:58 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Two straight buckets inside for AD. It’s as if they suddenly remembered Jokic has three fouls, so go at him. AK – 11:56 PM
Dave Mason @DeuceMason
Aaron Gordon just playing with soooo much force tonight. Fun to watch. – 11:52 PM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
I’m not sure if the Lakers are aware Aaron Gordon is on the court. Someone should tell Darvin Ham during this timeout. – 11:52 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Aaron Gordon having himself a GAME tonight. Working harder than everyone out there and always in the right spot. – 11:51 PM
Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
What a trade for Aaron Gordon, man – 11:51 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Aaron Gordon has been the best player on the floor tonight…what a performance – 11:50 PM
Rick Noland @RickNoland
Aaron Gordon not perfect, but soooo versatile and valuable – 11:50 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Lakers keep trying to force 4th foul on Jokic and it’s backfiring. Live ball turnovers, dead turnovers. Critical point with Nuggets up 67-61 – 11:49 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Aaron Gordon has been so impressive in this series that even Dwyane Wade would give him a 10 – 11:49 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Last game, the contact to Russell’s face by MPJ was deemed “marginal,” but tonight, the challenge is unsuccessful, and it’s Jokic’s 3rd PF.
The play was also ruled a goaltending violation, so Davis gets an and-1 layup.
Davis missed the FT, as LAL lead by 1. – 11:46 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
So Denver’s challenge is not only unsuccessful, giving Nikola Jokic a third foul, it also confirms a goaltend, giving the lakers a chance for three – 11:46 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Nuggets challenging what looked a pretty clear foul with Jokic pushing Davis with his left hand.
Of course, LAL didn’t fare well in Nuggets challenges in Game 2. – 11:44 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Nuggets are challenging the foul call on Jokic, it would be his third. – 11:42 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Nuggets open the 3Q with a 9-2 run, capped off by Aaron Gordon pushing the ball in transition before assisting Michael Porter Jr. on a 3-pointer to put Denver up 58-55 at 10:05 in the quarter — the Nuggets’ first lead of the game.
Darvin Ham calls timeout. – 11:39 PM
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
At the half: Lakers 53, Nuggets 49.
Tough spot to be in when that’s considered a wash for the Lakers.
Aaron Gordon has made his stamp in this game. He has 14 pts, 9 rebs
Jokic and Murray both have 11 apiece.
If you’re Malone, what’s your message to the team? – 11:21 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
One of the best halves of AG’s tenure with the Nuggets.
Hope we get a more aggressive Jokic in the 2nd half pic.twitter.com/XHwj32DwUG11:20 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Lakers lead at halftime again. 47-43. AD with 16, LeBron 14-4-3. Gordon with 14-9, Jokic with 11-6-3…. Neither team can shoot from 3, Nuggets 13 percent, Lakers 9 percent – 11:19 PM
Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
Jared Greenberg does a great job as a sideline reporter/interviewer. But I wish he had asked Michael Malone why he started Joker on Davis, resulting in two quick fouls, giving the Lakers a ‘false’ head start… – 11:05 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James bullied his way toward the basket. Aaron Gordon motioned a traveling call, but the officials disagreed. – 10:57 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Aaron Gordon is an absolute monster – 10:57 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers lead 33-23 after 1Q. AD 12p 5r; LeBron 8p on 4-of-4 5r; Reaves 6p; Rui 5p. Jokic was great for DEN, as always, w/ 9p 4r 2a but he did pick up 2 fouls. – 10:50 PM
Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Lakers lead 33-23 after one. Jokic (9) and Gordon (8) doing the heavy lifting for Denver. Nuggets’ only other points have come off 3s by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr.
Anthony Davis has 12 points on 4-7 FG to lead the Lakers. – 10:49 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL are +8 in the Jokic minutes until he sits with 1:05 to play in the 1st Q, lasting most of the period with 2 PF’s he picked up early.
Davis was terrific again, with 12 points and 4 boards. – 10:47 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Jokic gets And-1 and Reaves doesn’t? – 10:45 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
This Lakers lineup is just too small to use when Jokic is on the floor (and really in this series in general against a team that’s bigger and dominating the offensive glass). – 10:45 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Aaron Gordon has beaten the Lakers 3 times on the baseline for buckets, and just got a put-back of a missed MPJ layup to get Denver within 3. He has 8 of their 17 points.
Gordon has also switched onto Davis on D with Jokic in foul trouble. – 10:39 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Aaron Gordon is killing the Lakers with his activity – 10:39 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Jokic stays in the game. Malone goes back to Jokic on Rui Hachimura….Aaron Gordon on Anthony Davis – 10:32 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Jokic picks up his second foul, 5 minutes in. He’s staying in, though. Malone knows he can’t let this get too far away too early – 10:31 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Huge play: Davis flew in for an offensive board of a Russell miss, and forced the 2nd PF on Nikola Jokić.
Jokic will stay in for now with 7:51 left in the 1st Q, and LAL lead 16-7 after 2 Davis FT’s. Davis has 10 points. – 10:31 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
No one has an answer to stop Nikola Jokic, except hope he gets into foul trouble. He collects his second with 7:51 left in the 1st Q – 10:30 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
That’s two fouls on Nikola Jokic……let’s see what Michael Malone does here – 10:30 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Nikola Jokic just picked up his second foul. – 10:30 PM
Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Among the people booed while the starting lineups were announced: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and … Darvin Ham. – 10:17 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
What I’m watching for in Game 3 tonight vs. Lakers:
– Nuggets defensive matchups
Denver flipped Game 2 by moving Aaron Gordon onto Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic onto Rui Hachimura in the 2nd half. It neutralized Davis and threw the Lakers’ offense off. Does Michael Malone go – 8:37 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic finishes 4th in Clutch Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/NNuiiY6ytK7:13 PM

Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
Game 3 is nearly upon us. And the adjustments that come with it. Love the chess match. Here’s a really fun action the #Nuggets ran in Game 2 to get AD off Jokic for a possession, knowing the Lakers are willing to switch AD/Rui ball screens with Jokic involved. Jokic gets a layup pic.twitter.com/sa31SZfSH04:04 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
NEW #BigNumber @YahooSports:
Nikola Jokic can’t jump over a post-it note, but he has dominated the rim against the Los Angeles Lakers, shooting ***86.3%*** vs. them in that area. pic.twitter.com/sE6HDOVpIb12:04 PM

More on this storyline

Katy Winge: I asked Aaron Gordon about excelling in the dunker spot with this team. He said when the rest of the starters are “so damn talented” they require so much attention. “I’m just lurking on the baseline trying to clean up the garbage.” -via Twitter @katywinge / April 26, 2024
Mark Medina: Same old story repeats with Lakers-Nuggets. In 112-105 Game 3 loss in LA, Lakers can’t hold onto a double-digit lead. Nuggets have too much depth and bandwidth to make adjustments. Lakers to play Game 4 on Saturday, but no NBA team has ever overcome an 0-3 series deficit. -via Twitter @MarkG_Medina / April 26, 2024
StatMuse: Aaron Gordon tonight: 29 PTS (playoff career-high) 15 REB (playoff career-high) 12-18 FG Nuggets are 5-0 when he has a 20-point playoff game. statmuse.com/nba/player/aar… -via Twitter @statmuse / April 26, 2024
Harrison Wind: Nikola Jokic on building the Nuggets’ read-and-react offense: He mentions his chemistry with Gary Harris, Jameer Nelson, Wilson Chandler and then Jamal Murray. “First, you need to learn how to play.” “You need 2-3 years together to learn how to play with each other. pic.twitter.com/aREWPKdbKT -via Twitter @HarrisonWind / April 26, 2024
Harrison Wind: Nikola Jokic: “Winning is a lifestyle for us.” “I was here when we were losing, so I don’t want to go back to that.” pic.twitter.com/0jbaLEw5Ke -via Twitter @HarrisonWind / April 26, 2024
As self-deprecating as ever, he didn’t mince words when asked how he can guard Lakers center Anthony Davis better after a barrage of buckets forced Michael Malone to cross-match, hiding Jokic on a lesser scoring threat in Game 2. “He’s an offensive monster, and defensive, too,” Jokic said. “… He’s a really good offensive player. And I’m not really good defensively one-on-one. Let’s say it like that.” -via Denver Post / April 25, 2024

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