Ish Smith on his newfound respect for Nikola Jokic: "He's special"

Ish Smith had a perception of who Nikola Jokic was as a player and person before he arrived in Denver last summer. But after being around the back-to-back MVP on a daily basis all season, that perception has changed.

“You hear guys all the time who have their own opinions about his game, but I want people to know, once you see it up close on a night-to-night basis you gain a newfound respect for how special he is and how easy he makes the game, not only for himself but for everybody else,” Smith told DNVR. “Now, what he does is incredibly hard. We know it’s hard work what he’s doing. But that’s what makes great players great — when you make it normal, or when things are difficult you make it look easy.”

“He does that. He makes it looks easy. Steph does it. These guys make the game look easy and that’s why they’re as special as they are. Joker, he’s special. He really is.”

Smith has been around the NBA long enough to be a rightful judge of greatness. He’s played for 13 years and has suited up for 13 different teams, an NBA record. Smith has been teammates with future Hall-of-Famers like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis, and says that what sets Jokic apart from many of his peers is his work ethic, drive, and basketball IQ.

“It’s about how hard he works and his knowledge of the game,” Smith said. “It’s pretty special how he thinks the game in so many different ways. And he just honestly wants to play the right way. That’s his biggest thing. That’s what’s refreshing and special about him.”

Here’s more from Smith’s conversation with DNVR about the upcoming playoffs, his explanation for the Nuggets’ end-of-season malaise, and his view on Denver’s two rookies who could garner postseason minutes, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson.

Has there been a different energy in the gym or a renewed vibe around the team now that the regular season’s over and the playoffs are here?

Throughout the season, you’re grinding and you’re grinding, and it’s been a blessing, man. For us to be the No. 1 seed and to be the No. 1 seed for a while, since December I think, you kind of, not get bored with the game that late in the season, but at the end of the day you just get excited about this time of the year. Everybody gets rejuvenated. Everybody feels like we’re in the dance now. The playoffs being here and feeling like you have a chance to win a championship, it does renew your excitement and your juice. You can feel it around here now.

What do you think happened with you guys over the last month of the season — losing 5 of your last 7 games?

It’s a long season. Sometimes you just hit a skid. It’s 82 games, you know how it is, man. I thought we were the one team that had not hit a skid before the All-Star break. So I mean, it was gonna come and it did. And that happens. So for us now, we’ve got to wash all those things away. We got the No. 1 seed. Now it’s time for us to get ready for whoever, OKC or Minnesota. Each one brings their own problems and challenges and so we’ll be ready. We’ll be prepared.

What’s the biggest key for you guys in the 1st round?

I’ve always said, in the playoffs, people are gonna take away your strengths. It’s just what happens. They game plan and take away your strengths. When it comes down to it, you are who you are. You’ve got to defend your guy. The more stops you get, the more you’re able to run. And then making big shots, taking your guy off the dribble, and being able to create for others.

But the biggest thing for us will be defense. Defending. Especially against Minnesota and Oklahoma City, they’re going to be our first challenge. Each team is going to pose their own challenge. One team is more ISO, kind of in the paint, one team is bigger. It’s gonna challenge our one-on-one defense and our entire team defense.

How much stock do you put in your guys’ clutch defense? You’ve been near the top of the league in that category all season.

I believe in it and it’s something we can rely on. Like we watched in the Lakers-Minnesota game, it becomes half-court, you know, last five minutes, and it’s about just getting a stop. And that’s what’s important. And we’ve been number one, we’ve been good at that. And so I want us to continue and keep that up. If we’re like that in the playoffs we’re going to have a long, long run.

For Christian Braun to come in as a rookie and carve out this type of role, what does that say about the type of player he is and what have you thought of his play this year?

CB is beyond his years. You’ve got to give the Kansas staff credit and his development credit. Because the coaches can do all they want to do, but players have to buy-in and you got to put the work in. And he did that in college. He did that in high school. He wasn’t a big-time recruit. I love stories like that because he’s worked his way all the way to where he is now to getting drafted and in the rotation on a playoff team.

The sky’s the limit for CB. Defensively, he’s tough. He’s gonna get in your face. He’s nasty on the defensive end. He’s got a little toughness and edge to him offensively and knocking down shots, cutting, slashing, finishing at the rim. But he just took what he did in the national championship, being a veteran guy, and parlayed that into playing. So he’s been special. He’s been great. And he’s just going to keep going.

And Peyton Watson, what’s your take on what he’s been able to do over the last couple of weeks?

I’ve been so impressed with him. But the thing about him and CB is I’ve seen them put in the work. Every day, we come up here early and work, work, work. I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but Peyton’s body has changed. He’s getting bigger. He’s getting stronger. He’s getting faster, and the thing I like about him is he’s not overthinking the game. He’s just being aggressive, and attacking, attacking, attacking.

Defensively, man, it’s crazy how athletic he is and how long his arms are. Some of those blocks he had against Golden State were special. But for me, I’m more proud because he’s put the work in. Sometimes it can get frustrating, you know, Young guy, McDonald’s All-American. Then you go to UCLA, it doesn’t work out like you want to and you get drafted in the first round. And then back to like, man, I’m not even going to play. But he’s put into work even though he’s not been able to see what’s down the road. He’s, I’m telling you, he’s special, and the work is paying off. He’s gonna be big for us in the playoffs.