The Denver Nuggets upset the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night thanks to a historic performance from Nikola Jokic. Jokic became the first NBA player to finish with 32 points, 16 assists, 16 rebounds, and 4 steals in a single game.

Jokic, who was primarily protected by the much smaller Draymond Green, had an excellent duel with Golden State’s defensive anchor and praised him after the game.

“He’s good,” Jokic stated. “He won a few Defensive Player of the Year accolades. He is a fighter, a warrior, and he does not back down. He is engaging in physical play. He’s a great defender. I believe he can protect numerous positions. He’s been doing it for a long time, so it’s a difficult matchup for anyone in the league.”

Green and Jokic have a lot of mutual respect, as both competitors know how good the other is at what they do. Jokic believes that excellence exists in all aspects of the game, as he has the ability to dominate in a variety of ways. While Green’s scoring output isn’t as high as it once was, he’s been extremely efficient this season, which complements his outstanding defense.

While Jokic and the Nuggets defeated Green and the Warriors in this game, there will undoubtedly be more battles ahead.