For years, Nikola Jokic has been one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, known for his unique combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ. His ability to control games as a playmaking center has made him the backbone of the Denver Nuggets and a perennial MVP candidate. Offensively, Jokic is virtually unstoppable, with elite passing, scoring, and court vision. Defensively, however, there has always been a notable vulnerability—a weakness that has been manageable but never entirely eliminated.
That weakness was fully exposed in Team Serbia’s round of 16 matchup against Finland at EuroBasket, and it provides a sobering reminder of what can happen when elite players find themselves out of position.
The Defensive Weakness
Jokic has never been a conventional rim protector. Unlike traditional centers, he prefers to anchor himself around the paint and the foul line, using his size, instincts, and quick hands to disrupt opponents’ shots rather than relying solely on athleticism. This approach works well against teams that play through him, but when opponents force Jokic to defend away from the basket, it creates problems.
In the EuroBasket matchup, Finland executed this strategy perfectly. They dragged Jokic out to the perimeter, forcing him to defend smaller, quicker players far from the paint. Jokic, who thrives in drop coverage and interior defense, suddenly found himself on an island, defending in uncomfortable situations. The result was a defensive breakdown that Finland exploited repeatedly, ultimately leading to a shocking 92-86 upset over Serbia.
Lessons for the Nuggets
While the EuroBasket scenario was troubling, it also serves as a warning for NBA teams. The Nuggets have built their roster around Jokic’s offensive brilliance and have surrounded him with versatile defenders. Players like Aaron Gordon and DaRon Holmes provide secondary rim protection, while guards and wings are capable of scrambling on the perimeter to cover rotations. These adjustments make it easier for Denver to hide Jokic’s defensive limitations in the NBA.
However, the EuroBasket example shows that Jokic can be exploited when teams consistently attack him on the perimeter. Smaller, more agile players who can shoot and drive create situations where Jokic must leave his comfort zone. If opponents in the NBA, such as the Thunder, Rockets, or Lakers, use a combination of perimeter shooting and attacking the paint, Jokic could be forced into the same uncomfortable positions he faced against Finland.
Why This Is a Worst-Case Scenario
The issue isn’t that Jokic is a bad defender—far from it. The problem is structural: Denver lacks a true rim-protecting center to anchor the defense when Jokic is pulled out of position. In situations where multiple threats attack him simultaneously, even Jokic’s high basketball IQ may not be enough to prevent defensive breakdowns.
In EuroBasket, Jokic’s struggles were magnified because Serbia lacked the depth and athleticism around him that NBA teams enjoy. Finland capitalized on the mismatch with precision, combining perimeter shooting and fast-paced offensive sets to expose Jokic. For the Nuggets, a similar strategy by a well-coordinated NBA team could create serious challenges.
Nuggets’ Possible Counters
Denver isn’t without solutions. The team has the versatility and depth to mitigate Jokic’s defensive vulnerabilities. Players like Aaron Gordon can step up as rim protectors, while DaRon Holmes can rotate to contest shots. Guards and wings like Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are capable of scrambling on the perimeter, closing gaps, and applying pressure on shooters.
Additionally, Jokic’s own basketball IQ and instincts allow him to anticipate plays, help in rotations, and cover some of the gaps when defenders are out of position. This combination of team defense and Jokic’s savvy has allowed Denver to remain one of the most efficient defensive teams in the league despite the absence of a traditional shot-blocking center.
What This Means Moving Forward
The EuroBasket example is a wake-up call for the Nuggets. While Jokic remains a transformative offensive force and a highly intelligent defender, NBA teams will look for ways to replicate Finland’s strategy: pulling Jokic away from the paint and forcing him to defend on the perimeter.
The Nuggets’ defensive schemes will be tested, especially against teams with multiple perimeter threats and elite driving guards. To counter this, Denver must rely on rotations, defensive versatility, and the ability of other big men to protect the rim when Jokic is drawn out of position.
Conclusion
Nikola Jokic’s brilliance as a center is unquestionable, but the EuroBasket matchup against Finland exposed a defensive vulnerability that opponents can exploit. While the Denver Nuggets have more tools and athletic defenders than Serbia did, the situation serves as a cautionary tale: when Jokic is forced out of the paint, the Nuggets’ defense can be tested in ways it hasn’t been before.
Jokic’s Achilles’ heel isn’t a flaw in skill or effort—it’s a structural challenge inherent to his style of play. Teams that combine perimeter shooting with aggressive drives to the basket could create scenarios reminiscent of Finland’s upset over Serbia. For Denver, preparing for this worst-case scenario will be crucial if they want to maximize Jokic’s effectiveness and compete at the highest level in the playoffs.
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