Even though Minnesota didn’t make it past the Western Conference Finals last year, they had made one thing very clear- they are not a team to be trifled with. Their ferocious takedown of the Suns in 4 games and dismantling of the Nuggets in 7 had essentially thrown down the gauntlet. They’ve continued the domination of both those sides this season, and it seems like Nuggets head coach Mike Malone has had enough.
Advertisement
As the two teams get ready to face off again, he spoke about how the Wolves treat the game like a rivalry, but the Nuggets treat it like a normal game. He added that if they had any hope of beating last year’s Western Conference Finalists, they’d have to get serious about the enmity between the two teams and start playing as hard as their opponents.
Since the game is being broadcast on TNT, tonight’s panel had a few thoughts on Malone’s bold proclamation. Vince Carter, for example, loved the coach’s words. He claimed that treating the game like a rivalry was the best way for the Nuggets to try and reclaim the pride that they lost during last year’s playoff collapse.
Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, wasn’t convinced. Being Shaq, he had to drop a subtle flex in there while explaining his reasoning. He added that last year’s playoffs don’t play a part in deciding whether or not there existed a rivalry between the two teams.
Minnesota has largely dropped off in the standings from last year, and Shaq pointed this out. No matter where they are in the standings, they play hard against the Nuggets, and the former MVP said the Nuggets simply need to do the same. With the gulf in talent between the two sides and Nikola Jokic’s presence on the Nuggets, he believes the Wolves don’t have any chance if the Nuggets play harder.
To drive his point home, he asked his co-hosts if Minnesota could defeat Denver in a 7-game series right now. Adam Lefkoe started to say that the Wolves already did defeat the Nuggets in a 7-game series last year, but Shaq cut him off with an interesting comparison.
“We not talking about last year. I had a Cybertruck last year, but now I got an Escalade IQ because of you,” he said, which prompted a chuckle from Candace Parker.
Shaq doesn't think Minnesota vs Denver is a rivalry after hearing HC Michael Malone's comments 👀 pic.twitter.com/URGLGRWKMN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 1, 2025
Now, his words may seem a bit weird when discussing two NBA teams, but in typical Shaq fashion, he found a way to drive his point home, irrespective of how weird a comparison he used. The bottom line of his subtle Cybertruck-Escalade flex was simple- a lot has changed since last year for the Wolves.
Their twin big lineup of Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony Towns was able to slow down Jokic enough for them to capitalise, but they don’t have KAT anymore. Irrespective of how skilled Julius Randle is, he cannot replicate KAT’s height on the defensive end, and they’re going to have a huge disadvantage against Jokic if the Nuggets decide to play hard.
