It started like most of their antics—two retired champions, a couple of mics, and zero filter. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman have been dishing out laughs since their Patriots days, and their latest bit was no different. On a recent episode, the duo veered from football to basketball in classic Gronk-and-Jules fashion: completely unexpected and hilariously off the rails.

Their back-and-forth was vintage banter, but this time they roped in NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. With the Denver Nuggets fighting to stay alive in the playoffs, the timing couldn’t have been better—or stranger. What started as a joke quickly turned into one of the most talked-about Instagram reels of the week, just as Denver braces for a must-win Game 6 at home, trailing 3–2 in the series.

In an Instagram reel shared by @dudesondudes, Edelman kicked it off with, “You’d be Jokic on the floor.” Rob Gronkowski didn’t miss a beat: “Love that comparison. The way he moves. He’s even bigger than me. But we got similar movements. Also, the way he looks. He’s got like a big nose. I got a big nose. I don’t want to say this but he’s kind of an uglier version of me.” With Edelman nearly falling out of his chair laughing, Gronkowski added the knockout line: “But I would still date him. Like if I was a hot chick.”

The internet lapped it up. Fans went digging through past podcast clips looking for more Nuggets talk—some even resurfaced an old “New Heights” bit where Rob Gronkowski joked about challenging Jokic to a footrace. While that fantasy race might never happen, both Gronkowski and Edelman are reportedly heading to the Celebrity Softball Game in LA this summer—meaning another Jokic punchline could be just around the corner.

Still, the timing of the reel couldn’t be ignored. It dropped just hours after Denver’s rough Game 5 loss, offering a bit of levity for fans dreading the thought of elimination. As Jokic gears up for a crucial Game 6 at Ball Arena, the focus shifts from laughs to legacy. And while Rob Gronkowski and Jules keep the jokes rolling, the Nuggets will need every ounce of their MVP’s fire to stay alive against an OKC squad that’s been surging late.

Can Jokic & the Nuggets rally in game 6 after Rob Gronkowski’s jab?

Denver’s been running on fumes with a seven‑or‑eight‑man rotation, and you can see it wearing them down—Charles Barkley even called out their thin bench and questionable late‑game lineups. Meanwhile, OKC’s depth lets them flip the switch at will—just look at that Game 5 surge, when they calmly pulled away in crunch time. The Denver Nuggets’ recent 112-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals has intensified scrutiny on the team. 

 Even after Nikola Jokic’s 44‑point masterpiece in Game 5, Denver still finds itself down 3–2 in the series, one loss away from elimination. As Jokic put it, “I think we have a chance,” but it’ll take more than his MVP‑caliber play to force a Game 7 against a Thunder squad fueled by Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s 31 points. Heading back to Ball Arena should give the Nuggets a jolt—the home crowd there can be brutal for visitors. 

Oddsmakers agree it’s a toss‑up, listing OKC as just a 4½‑point favorite (moneyline −194 for the Thunder, +162 for Denver), underlining how razor‑thin this series has been. Outside of Jokic, Aaron Gordon’s been the X‑factor, averaging about 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists this series—and drilling huge buckets in Games 1 and 3. If he can catch fire early again, it could open up space for Denver’s stars and force Oklahoma City’s defense to make tough choices. What’s really tilted the balance toward OKC lately is their depth. 

After clawing back from an eight‑point hole in Game 5, they got 31 from SGA and a surprising 14 from Chet Holmgren on nearly 70 percent shooting, with a +13 plus‑minus in 34 minutes. Meanwhile, Denver’s turnovers have climbed to about 13 percent—three points higher than their regular‑season rate—and they went just 1‑for‑11 from three in the fourth quarter of Game 5. With OKC outscoring them by roughly three points per 48 minutes this series, Denver’s in for an uphill battle. 

With the crowd behind them, the Nuggets have the firepower to make life difficult, but Oklahoma City’s confidence is peaking at exactly the wrong time for Denver. Gronkowski’s humorous comparison may have added a light-hearted moment to the narrative, but the stakes remain high for both teams. As the basketball world watches closely, Game 6 promises to be a defining moment in this tightly contested series.