Inside The Nuggets

Victor Wembanyama Makes Strong Nikola Jokic Statement After Nuggets-Spurs

The Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs are led by two superstars.

Joey Linn

Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center.
Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center. / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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The Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs split a two-game mini series on Friday and Saturday. The road team won each game, as the Spurs defeated the Nuggets in Denver before dropping the second half of the back to back in San Antonio.

The superstar center battle between Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama did not disappoint in either game.

On Friday, Wembanyama finished with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and four assists. Jokic tallied 41 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. Both players were dominant again on Saturday, with Wembanyama tallying 20 points and 23 rebounds while Jokic finished with 46 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.

Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama
Jan 3, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball under pressure from San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Wembanyama was very complimentary of Jokic after Friday’s game, saying the three-time MVP is the type of player he wants to become.

“Jokic is one of the guys who, despite getting double-teamed every game, makes his teammates better,” Wembanyama said. “And that’s 100% what I want to be.”

Wembanyama has seen his fair share of double teams already to begin his NBA career, and those will certainly not be slowing down as he continues to improve.

This is what has made Jokic so difficult to defend, because his dominant scoring ability is matched or even exceeded by his historically great playmaking ability.

Jokic said after the game he is looking forward to facing Wembanyama for the next several years.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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