"He's a grown man. He knows exactly what to do": Juancho Hernangomez shares how Nikola Jokic got back on track

It came in a losing effort Friday night at Pepsi Center, but Nikola Jokic is back.

An effortless 37-point, 21-rebound performance put to bed any chatter that a $25,000 fine handed down by the league on Wednesday following four straight single-digit scoring outings would keep Jokic down for long. After Nuggets coach Michael Malone vehemently defended his star center pregame by saying everyone needed to “get off his back,” Jokic put Denver on his shoulders and nearly carried his team to victory.

Jokic kept his cards close to his chest when discussing his game. When questioned following the Nuggets’ 112-110 loss what was working well for him, Jokic responded by saying he “felt the ball really good.” When asked why he was so aggressive going to the basket tonight when Jokic attempted more field goals (22) than he had in the last four games combined (18), Jokic said it “depends on how he feels.”

So Hernangomez, Jokic’s running mate who logged just 14 minutes Friday but continues to emerge as a valuable rotation piece, offered his take.

“The only good thing about tonight is that the Joker got back to himself,” Juancho Hernangomez told BSN Denver. “I don’t think anybody in the league can guard him.”

It’s true. The 23-year-old has proven time and time again throughout his three-plus year career that he’s unguardable. The Warriors have tried to small ball the Nuggets to demise with their death lineup, but Jokic overpowers the smaller Draymond Green in the post. When reigning defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert came to Denver last week, Jokic pulled him away from the hoop, dictated the pace of the game and handed out 16 of the Nuggets’ 32 assists on the night.

Against the Nets, Jokic fouled out Ed Davis in 16 minutes and abused Jarrett Allen on the block. He barely broke a sweat while posting the NBA’s first 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season.

Jokic hadn’t been that player over Denver’s last four outings. Wednesday in Memphis, Jokic barely glanced at the rim and deferred too much for Jamal Murray and Mason Plumlee’s liking, who both said following the game that the Nuggets’ big man needed to stay aggressive. It’s never about the number of shots Jokic takes, as Will Barton put it bluntly Friday morning; it’s about him being a threat.

“When he’s playing like he was tonight, he helps out a lot,” Hernangomez said. “We know he’s the most talented guy on our team. He’s our best player. We go through him, and he needs to be aggressive every single day.”

Jokic’s teammates knew he’d bounce back. He always does. After a three-game stretch last season in March where Jokic scored in single-digits and passed up the same types of looks he did over the last week, he was counseled by four-time All-Star Paul Millsap who delivered a succinct message to his front court partner that he was “the engine” of Denver’s attack. Jokic went on to post All-NBA caliber numbers throughout the rest of the season, averaging 24.0 points on 53.8 percent shooting from the field, 47.6 percent from three, 11.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game nearly leading the Nuggets to a playoff appearance.

Millsap nor any of his teammates or coaches needed to take Jokic aside this time.

“He’s a grown man,” Hernangomez said. “He knows exactly what to do. It’s a business. It’s our job here, and he knows we need him to a win. We are so happy to get him back.”

“Sometimes he just wants to pass the ball. He’s a really unselfish player. He’s always thinking about his teammates, that’s the greatness of him too,” Hernangomez continued. “Some games he’s trying to pass the ball, help his teammates.”

Denver didn’t capture the top spot in the Western Conference Friday, which they would have if the Nuggets were victorious over the Nets. But they did get their big man back, which in the long run will prove to be much more fruitful than a November win.