Draymond Green offered his perspective on the on-court exchange between Nikola Jokic and Jaden McDaniels, breaking down the situation ahead of Game 5 between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves.

While fans and analysts debated the late-game dribble-out controversy, Green shifted focus toward the mental side of confrontation. 

Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, he suggested that Nikola Jokic’s actions were less about frustration and more about strategy. He implied that the Serbian baited McDaniels into potentially risking disciplinary action. 

“ I think Joker was trying to do is he was trying to get Jaden McDaniels to react the wrong way so that Jaden McDaniels could get thrown out of the next game,” said Draymond Green. “It was a mental play by Joker to try to get Jaden McDaniels to go over the top.”

The Golden State Warriors veteran also pointed to earlier comments made by McDaniels as a possible trigger for Jokic’s targeted approach. Following Game 2 victory over the Nuggets, McDaniels publicly criticized them, calling most rotation players 'bad defenders.'

“He's told them what they're doing. I'm not a fan of telling teams that. He's told them what they're doing, and he's lived up to it,” Green added.

However, momentum shifted further after Minnesota suffered setbacks in Game 4, with injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo weakening their lineup. With the team missing its starting backcourt, Green predicted the Nuggets to push the series to Game 7 yet again.

The Nuggets won Game 5 on April 27th, extending the series.

Nikola Jokic Makes Actions in Game 5

While Draymond Green offered his interpretation of Nikola Jokic’s Game 4 action, the Joker had a different response. The big man, when asked for an explanation, said, “He scored when we’d stopped playing.” He also added that he doesn’t regret his action.

However, the league took disciplinary action against the star, fining him $50,000. Regardless, Jokic repeated a similar gesture in Game 5.

Late in the contest, during the dribble-out situation, Jokic handed the ball to the Wolves reserve Joan Beringer, only to quickly snatch it back as the whistle sounded. 

With the Nuggets facing an elimination game in Game 6, the Wolves, despite their injuries, will look to land a knockout punch and extend their postseason.

Written by

Shahul Hameed