Nikola Jokic didn’t hesitate when he was asked which defenders give him the most trouble around the NBA. Among the names he rattled off was Wendell Carter Jr., the Magic center who has quietly made life difficult for Denver’s 3x MVP.
That tracks with the way Carter has handled the matchup. Against the Nuggets, he’s consistently found ways to produce, and by 2025 Denver was tied with the Chicago Bulls - the team that drafted him 7th overall in 2018 - for the opponent Carter had averaged the most points against in his career. He averaged 16 points per game against both teams at that point.
Carter’s numbers against Denver only kept climbing. In a December outing in 2025, he posted a season-high 26 points, along with a career-high four 3-pointers, nine rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Jokic’s Nuggets. After the 2026 NBA season, Carter was up to 17 points per game against Denver, his highest average against any team.
The fit is pretty obvious on the floor. Offensively, Carter can drag Jokic away from the paint with his three-point shot, then attack once the big man closes out too hard.
If Jokic commits, Carter has the quickness to use the pump fake, take the fly-by and get downhill. He’s also got enough mobility and versatility to keep switching, while his strength, hands, footwork and timing help him hold up when he has to battle Jokic inside.
One possession summed it up: Carter switched to cut Jamal off from the rim, stayed with Jokic in the post, and then recovered a loose ball after a mishandled pass to force a turnover.
That blend of skill and grit is what makes Carter such a tough cover in this matchup. He can stretch the floor, crash the glass, defend with intensity and make every possession feel heavier than it should. Jokic has now said as much himself.
When asked which player guards him best and gives him the most trouble in the NBA, Jokic said, "Everbody! The league is just as talented defensively as it is offensively".
He then listed the defenders he finds toughest: "Ivica Zubac... Jusuf Nurkic...
Rudy Gobert... Jalen Duren...
Wendell Carter Jr. ... The Entire Thunder Team...
Victor Wembanyama..."
For Carter, that’s a pretty strong endorsement. And it matches the film: he’s one of the few bigs whose mix of mobility, toughness and two-way versatility can genuinely bother one of the greatest players in the league.
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