Karlo Matkovic on Jokic, Zion, and Life in the NBA: A Rookie Year to Remember
From Facing Jokic to Battling Zion in Practice, Matkovic Reflects on a Wild First NBA Season
For Karlo Matkovic, the 2024–25 NBA season has been nothing short of surreal.
From guarding Nikola Jokic to sharing the floor with Zion Williamson, and even getting into a bit of a skirmish with Kevin Durant, the Croatian forward has had a front-row seat to some of basketball’s biggest names—and he’s holding his own. As the playoffs unfold in unpredictable fashion, the 24-year-old New Orleans Pelicans big man took time to reflect on the whirlwind of a rookie season that took him from G League gyms to prime-time duels with MVPs.
“This year? It’s chaos. But the good kind,” Matkovic tells Basketball Sphere, a smile evident in his voice. “Honestly, I don’t even know who to call a favorite anymore. It’s all over the place—and I love it.”
A Playoffs Without Favorites? Yes, Please
Matkovic might be a rookie, but he talks like someone who’s already seen how quickly the NBA landscape can change.
“You look at the East, then the West… one game it’s a blowout, the next it’s overtime,” he says. “It’s impossible to predict who’s going to beat who. This is the best version of the playoffs, in my opinion—when there’s no clear-cut path to the Finals.”
One series in particular caught his attention: Clippers vs. Nuggets. For most fans, it’s a battle of star power. For Matkovic, it was something more personal.
“I watched every minute of that,” he says. “Seeing Zubac out there battling Jokic, that meant something to me. He’s from the same region, same grind. And he’s holding his own. If he can do it, why not me one day?”
The admiration for Zubac isn’t just nationalistic pride—it’s technical respect. “The guy has the best defensive numbers against Jokic. That’s insane when you think about it,” Matkovic says. “Jokic is like a basketball wizard. And yet Zubac manages to make it tough for him. That’s inspiring.”
On Jokic: “He’s Schooling the League”
Ask Matkovic to name his basketball role model and the answer comes without hesitation: Nikola Jokic.
“I’m waiting for Jokic to beat the Thunder,” he says with a laugh. “His teammates just need to keep up. You can’t stop him. He’s that classic hooper who doesn’t look like much walking in—but once the ball’s tipped, he’s schooling everyone.”
It’s not just the shot-making or passing that impresses Matkovic. It’s the IQ. “He reads the game two steps ahead. That’s what separates him.”
And yet, as much as Matkovic studies Jokic, he also knows what a difference a high-level point guard can make for a big man’s success.
“When you’ve got someone who can run a proper pick-and-roll, everything opens up,” he explains. “Like that game where Elfrid Payton had 22 assists—do you know how much easier that makes life for the rest of us?”
Life with the Pelicans: Zion Up Close
On his own team, the most awe-inspiring presence isn’t Jokic—but Zion Williamson.
“Animal,” Matkovic says, laughing. “That’s the only way to describe him.”
He recalls a moment that left him dumbfounded. “We’re in transition. I’m trailing the break. Zion has the ball and he’s going right at LeBron. Jumps from what felt like the free-throw line. I’m just thinking, ‘What am I watching right now?’”
That kind of explosiveness, Matkovic admits, is rare—even in the NBA. “There’s strength, there’s speed, and then there’s Zion,” he says. “It’s something else entirely.”
The NBA Adjustment: Fast, Unforgiving, and Eye-Opening
Matkovic’s path to minutes wasn’t easy. Like many international rookies, he bounced between the NBA roster and the G League in the early part of the season. The transition was jarring.
“At first, you don’t really play much,” he says. “One week it’s G League. Then you’re back. Then gone again. It all goes by so fast.”
There was also the surprising lack of practice. “You think there’s going to be tons of team training, but most of it is individual,” he explains. “You work more with coaches than with teammates. It’s just different.”
Still, once he started getting minutes after the All-Star break, Matkovic made them count. He averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 57% from the field.
“I just tried to bring energy,” he says. “Run the floor, defend, rebound. The little things that win games.”
On Durant: “He Was My Idol. Then He Hit Me.”
Every young player has a moment that reminds them they’re not in Europe anymore. For Matkovic, it came when he found himself on the wrong side of Kevin Durant’s frustration.
“I didn’t even notice it at first,” he says. “I asked him, ‘Why’d you hit me?’ And he said I nailed him with my shoulder on a screen.”
Durant’s response stung—not physically, but emotionally. “He was my idol growing up,” Matkovic says. “Now he’s hitting me. But hey, that’s the league. Next game, another screen is coming.”
He shrugs it off now, smiling. “It’s all part of it. You can’t take it personally.”
Looking Ahead: NBA Europe and the Croatian National Team
Beyond his NBA experience, Matkovic is also intrigued by the whispers of a potential NBA Europe project—a league-style expansion involving major European cities and clubs.
“CJ McCollum told me it’s more real than people think,” he says. “He’s the head of the Players Union, and he mentioned clubs like Man City, Man United, PSG. That would be huge.”
And while his NBA career is just beginning, Matkovic hasn’t lost sight of his roots. He speaks passionately about the Croatian national team’s future.
“We’ve got the big men,” he says. “But we’re missing a real playmaker. Someone to glue it all together.”
He laments the missed Olympic opportunity, particularly a heartbreaking loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “They caught fire, shooting like crazy,” he recalls. “But we lacked hustle. That’s on us.”
Building a Future in the League
For Karlo Matkovic, the rookie season has been a mixture of challenges, growth, and moments he’ll never forget. He’s faced MVPs, shared the court with generational talents, and made his mark—all while adjusting to the whirlwind that is life in the NBA.
“I’ve learned a lot,” he says. “And I’m just getting started.”
As unpredictable as this year’s playoffs may be, one thing seems certain: Karlo Matkovic isn’t just here to watch the chaos—he’s ready to be part of it.
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