Who can/could (any era) guard Jokic in the paint 1vs1?

[neno]

I'll add Kevin Mchale to the list

[CobraCommander]

Alex Caruso

Lol.
Game recognizes game.

Facts-

Honestly if it’s one V one jokic isn’t that guy - Hakeem destroys him- even Shaq could guard him 1 v 1. Yao would as well- wemby in his prime (when we get there) - Wes and others all includeing Rodman…

It’s jokics passing and complete game - team game that put him in the category of the best to ever do it - 1 v 1 or even 3 on 3 is a waste of the genius of jokic… Hakeem and Shaq better 1v1- Jokic is Magic as a center - not some one on one street baller-

[HMFFL]

Thurmond is always the best choice for such questions.

him and dwight and ben wallace.

Ben Wallace would be a non factor to me and I have forever been a fan of Big Ben. It would be ugly.

[dhsilv2]

I mean...nobody stops any of the greats one on one. This is a game where people score 100+. You don't stop elite players in iso.

[Last Guardian]

He wouldn't be able to move Shaq.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Post-peak Dwight did a pretty good job against pre-peak Jokic is the 2020 postseason. I imagine both in their primes would be similar.

That was not just Dwight it was Dwight, AD, and McGee, Morris, Kuzma, LeBron, etc. all rotating in on Jokic with fresh bodies. And pre-prime Jokic actually scored more points on higher efficiency than his regular season numbers in that series. I really have no idea how Dwight has been given this Jokic stopper reputation on the internet. Allowing a guy to score more than he normally does on better efficiency is shutting him down? Ok…

If prime Dwight and prime Jokic played one on one the problem wouldn’t be if Jokic can score on Dwight or not. That would be no issue. The problem would be whether Dwight can score on Jokic or not. I’m old enough to remember prime Dwight not be able to back down in the post and score against the likes of Glen Davis, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. Dwight has zero face up game so if he’s not catching lobs or grabbing offensive rebounds for a dunk, this is his offensive game: try to back down his man, not be able to, then resort to his baby hook which is terrible because has had no touch. If you can’t back down those guys you’re not backing down Jokic who is significantly bigger and heavier than those guys I listed. Dwight never went around anyone one on one. He didn’t have fakes, footwork, or post moves. This is a guy who averaged 15 points on 48% shooting against the Lakers when his magic team made the finals. Are you kidding me? This is the internet’s goat? Joker would’ve cooked those losers on the Lakers. Not saying he’d beat that lakers team, but the Dwight overrating has become just as bad as the Hakeem overrating.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

He wouldn't be able to move Shaq.

Oh I’m old enough to remember what Shaq looked like trying to guard anyone who could step outside the paint. Basically, Shaq would just stand at the free throw line with his arms in the air while Jokic would take warm up threes.

[HMFFL]

He wouldn't be able to move Shaq.

Like others did, Jokic would score 20 per game on Shaq and do fine everywhere else. Shaq was mobile but not as mobile as Jokic.

[Rubios]

I didn't ask who could guard him 1 on 1 like in street ball. 1 on 1 in the paint, as I believe his post game is absurd and vastly overlooked.

[Last Guardian]

He wouldn't be able to move Shaq.

Oh I’m old enough to remember what Shaq looked like trying to guard anyone who could step outside the paint. Basically, Shaq would just stand at the free throw line with his arms in the air while Jokic would take warm up threes.

Sorry to be rude....but the title of this thread is guard Jokic in the paint. So why are you talking about outside the paint

[LeBronSpaghetti]

He wouldn't be able to move Shaq.

Oh I’m old enough to remember what Shaq looked like trying to guard anyone who could step outside the paint. Basically, Shaq would just stand at the free throw line with his arms in the air while Jokic would take warm up threes.

Sorry to be rude....but the title of this thread is guard Jokic in the paint. So why are you talking about outside the paint

Haha you’re not being rude at all. You’re right, I got carried away and somewhat off topic. But it’s kind of hard/weird to only talk about 1 on 1 paint scoring? Idk. I still feel like any all time great offensive big can and will score on anyone. So I don’t know exactly whats meant by the phrasing of, can anyone “guard” Jokic. I meant technically I can guard Jokic, but he’s score every single time. It seems like the OP is asking “Who can shut down/stop Jokic 1 on 1 in the paint?” And if that’s the case I would say nobody.

[mojomarc]

Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Shaq
Mutombo
Pre injury Walton
Pre injury A. Sabonis
Pre injury Yao

I think this is a pretty good list. I think DRob, Duncan, Nate Thurmond, and Artis Gilmore probably would be on this list as well. Maybe a few others if we look at just one year peaks.

[Gregoire]

Rodman, He would get under his skin. Would be flopping contest.
Also maybe Pekovic.

[Zadeh]

Scott Foster

[falcolombardi]

Scott Foster

Let it gooo, let it gooo (cue frozen music)

[Lockdown504090]

Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Shaq
Mutombo
Pre injury Walton
Pre injury A. Sabonis
Pre injury Yao

I think this is a pretty good list. I think DRob, Duncan, Nate Thurmond, and Artis Gilmore probably would be on this list as well. Maybe a few others if we look at just one year peaks.

you forgot karl anthony towns.

[Lockdown504090]

Thurmond is always the best choice for such questions.

him and dwight and ben wallace.

Ben Wallace would be a non factor to me and I have forever been a fan of Big Ben. It would be ugly.

Watch on YouTube

you think draymond better than ben?

[OdomFan]

Too small

Rodman was able to defend Shaq and you think Jokic would give him more problems in the paint?

I agree about the defense side of things for Rodman, what about his offense? Probably be a stalemate lol

Rodman never needed to be a primary scorer, wouldn't need to now either. His offense was setting picks for teammates, passing well in the teams system, and grabbing offensive rebounds to keep things alive off missed shots.

There's no reason that can't work now.

[HMFFL]

him and dwight and ben wallace.

Ben Wallace would be a non factor to me and I have forever been a fan of Big Ben. It would be ugly.

Watch on YouTube

you think draymond better than ben?

It would be foolish of me to think so.

[iggymcfrack]

Thurmond is always the best choice for such questions.

I know Thurmond was supposed to be an all-time post defender, but do you have any idea how he defended in space? Do you think Jokic's range and ability to operate from the top of the key might bother him? Personally, I'd think of Hakeem for this hypothetical as not only does he have the incredible post defense, but also his speed and quick hands would mean he'd defend just as well on the perimeter and could bother Jokic when he's looking to be more of a pure passer than a scorer.

I mean I guess the question does say "in the paint" which I didn't notice when I was first writing this, but I'd still be interested in your thoughts about Thurmond away from the basket.