"What a hysterical hypocrite"- NBA Today radio host berates Draymond Green for calling out Rudy Gobert over not guarding Nikola Jokic
NBA Today radio host Justin Termine labeled Draymond Green a “hysterical hypocrite” for criticizing this year's Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Rudy Gobert, for not defending MVP Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference semifinal between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets.
Termine argued that Green, a former DPOY, was in no position to make such remarks, pointing out that Green himself did not guard LeBron James during the finals matchups between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
In a post on X responding to Green’s comments, Termine stated:
“What a hysterical hypocrite. So Rudy Gobert is expected to guard Jokic bc he’s the DPOY, but Iguodala is chasing around Lebron in the Finals instead of Draymond?”
On The Draymond Green Show, Green, who secured the 2016-17 DPOY award, expressed his dissatisfaction with Karl-Anthony Towns' defense on Jokic and mentioned that he preferred Rudy Gobert to take on the task of guarding the MVP.
“We sitting here breaking down KAT having to stop Joker, who’s a center. And a Defensive Player of the Year is on your team, and he a center,” Green said.
“Very interesting how the cookie crumbles. I can't help but notice there’s a center who won DPOY and we asking KAT to go guard the center."
Green also pointed out that former DPOY Marcus Smart had to guard Stephen Curry when the Celtics played against his Warriors in the finals.
Timberwolves' stifling defense led by Rudy Gobert sets historic low for Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets had their fewest points in a playoff game in Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals versus the Timberwolves, scoring just 70 points in a 45-point loss.
The Timberwolves, who scored 115 points, forced a Game 7 with the win.
In the game, Jokic scored 22 points on 19 shots, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out only two assists.
His teammates struggled, making just 17 of 67 field goal attempts and committing 12 turnovers.
In contrast, the Timberwolves were on fire, with Anthony Edwards scoring 27 points, Jaden McDaniels adding 21, Mike Conley contributing 13, and two of their big men tallying double-doubles: Towns with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Naz Reid with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Gobert ended with eight points and 14 rebounds.
According to StatMuse, only three teams in history have held the Jokic-led Nuggets to 80 points or fewer in a playoff game, and all three of those teams featured Rudy Gobert.