Although the Denver Nuggets did not reach the Conference Finals last season, their Nikola Jokic Jamal Murray duo was widely recognized as a formidable challenge to any championship contender. This was evident even to the Oklahoma City Thunder team, who faced the Nuggets in a decisive Game 7. Thunder’s coach Lu Dort acknowledged the Nuggets’ threat during an appearance on ESPN after the Finals, highlighting how close Denver was to advancing further in the playoffs.
Peyton Watson’s Observations on the Duo’s Excellence
Peyton Watson shared insights into what makes the Nikola Jokic Jamal Murray duo so effective. Speaking on The Young Man and the Three, Watson explained that his early approach was to study their habits from a distance, carefully analyzing their gameplay. His conclusion was that their success stems largely from unwavering consistency in their work ethic and approach to basketball.
“From day 1, I’ve always kind of just looked at what they’d done, and spectated from afar when I really wasn’t playing, and I was just always watching what they’d do,”
Watson began.
“They’re just two super, you know, consistent dudes. They’re consistent with their work, they’re consistent in their approach to the game, their demeanors,”
he continued.
Dispelling the Myth of Jokic’s Stoicism
Contrary to popular belief on NBA Twitter portraying Nikola Jokic as emotionless, Watson revealed a different side of the Serbian star. Far from being detached or robotic, Jokic is actually the biggest jokester among his teammates.
“It seems at times that Jok can be emotionless and things like that, but when you’re really around him on a day-to-day basis, he’s the biggest jokester bro,”
Watson said.
“He’s the most animated person sometimes. I just feel like when both of those two get on the court, they’re killers.”
Jokic’s Leadership Shines in Adversity
Despite a challenging season marked by a tough MVP race and the unexpected firing of coach Mike Malone, Jokic stepped up as the clear leader of the Nuggets. Playoff footage captured Jokic actively coaching from the sidelines, delivering instructions with intensity while also managing his physical energy. Watson praised this transformation, emphasizing how vital Jokic’s vocal leadership became for the team’s morale and performance.
“It helps a lot,”
Watson noted.
“And, you know, when somebody is quiet like that, when they do speak, everybody stops what they’re doing and listens. Jokic is a huge voice for our team. I think a lot of us lean on him more than he knows to kind of be a leader, not only by example, but also verbally as well. So to see him more animated, like you said, is big time. And I think it shows that we’re headed in the right direction as a locker room and as a team.”
Looking Ahead: The Impact of the Jokic-Murray Dynamic
Though the Nuggets ultimately fell short of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Nikola Jokic Jamal Murray duo demonstrated a level of talent and leadership that commands respect across the NBA. The narrow loss to the Thunder in Game 7 underscored how close they came to altering the postseason landscape. With Jokic’s evolution as a vocal leader and the duo’s relentless consistency, Denver appears poised to build on this foundation and mount a strong challenge in the coming seasons.