“MVP! MVP! MVP!”
As Nikola Jokic began his on-court interview following the Denver Nuggets’ win over the Phoenix Suns last week, fans began to serenade their star center with chants that the Pepsi Center crowd typically reserves for the likes of Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James and a select few. Teenagers who were born thousands of miles from Sombor and couldn’t pinpoint Jokic’s home country on a world map held up Serbian flags in support of their star center. What was left of the 18,000-plus capacity crowd, which had just watched Jokic record the second 30-plus point triple-double with perfect shooting from the field ever, turned their attention to center court to listen to their favorite player describe how he dominated the Suns for four quarters.
Jokic wanted none of it.
When asked about the MVP chants he got throughout the night, the home crowd again let him hear it.
“MVP! MVP! MVP!”
The big man finally gave in. He raised one hand to the sky and acknowledged the Nuggets’ faithful as an ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.
“Thank you, guys. Thank you,” Jokic said. “Appreciate it.”
“I was kind of lucky the ball was going in,” he continued. “My teammates were finding me. It’s not just me, it’s teammates, coaches, who drew the play for me.”
Jokic was just a minute or so removed from his best game as a pro. A stat line showing 35 points on 11-11 shooting, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, one block and zero turnovers in just 31 minutes followed his name on the final box score. Jokic went at rookie center Deandre Ayton early and often, scoring the Nuggets’ first seven points of the night. He barely grazed the iron on his 11 shots from the field and 10 made free throws. He was in the zone, as hoopers say.
But as Jokic has done throughout his short but eventful three-plus year career, he wanted no recognition for his efforts. Jokic would rather go scoreless and win than score 40 and lose. He gets more joy out of throwing a behind-the-back pass to a cutting Gary Harris for a layup or whipping the ball across the court to Jamal Murray and watching his point guard sink a three than scoring himself.
In a league where teams typically take on the identity of their best player, it’s no surprise that the Nuggets, who moved to 3-0 on the season with a come-from-behind 100-98 win over the Warriors on Sunday, are as unselfish as they come.
“There are no ego’s in this locker room,” Paul Millsap said.
The Nuggets have fallen in line behind Jokic to form a group that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s NBA. Denver’s locker room isn’t about stats, accolades and awards, even though Jokic took home Western Conference Player of the Week honors for his work in Denver’s first three games. The Nuggets are about winning above everything else.
That mindset has helped Denver capture national headlines as one of the brightest stories from the first week of the regular season. But not because of the Nuggets’ offense, which propelled Denver into the national NBA conversation of the last few years. It’s because of their defense.
Denver has the second-best point differential in the league through three games. The Nuggets have held the Clippers, Suns and Warriors, who Denver hosted Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back, all under 100 points. Those three teams on average shot 35.1 percent from the field and 27.1 percent from three. Second Spectrum data shows the Nuggets are limiting opponents to the ninth-hardest shots in terms of shot quality, up from 17th a year ago.
It’s early, as Nuggets coach Michael Malone reminded assorted media members after Denver’s latest win, but the Nuggets are making believers out of themselves on the defensive end of the floor. And they’re doing it with the same team-first mentality that’s led to their past success on offense.
“We’re trusting each other 1-17,” Gary Harris said. “We’re just out there depending on each other, not necessarily worried about our man but just worried about our team concept.”
Harris looks like an improved defender early on this season. Against the Warriors, he defended Klay Thompson for 44 possessions. Thompson shot 4-10 from the field and 1-4 from three when guarded by Harris, according to Second Spectrum. Denver’s starting shooting guard was mostly able to stay attached to Thompson as the All-Star sprinted around the court, weaving in and out of screens all night long.
Torrey Craig, who started against the Warriors and will likely continue to start at small forward for Will Barton, had a strong defensive game versus Golden State too. Craig matched up against Kevin Durant and helped limit the former MVP to 7-19 shooting. Durant shot 1-4 from the field when guarded by Craig, per Second Spectrum. Craig has good defensive awareness and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, whether it’s to secure a timely offensive rebound or come up with a weakside block.
Even Jokic, who’s been knocked for his defense throughout his career, is showing a different level of defensive commitment this season. He’s embracing playing higher up the floor when defending pick-and-rolls and is communicating better on that end of the court. It might not always look pretty, but so far Jokic is getting the job done. Denver’s help-side defenders are taking care of their business behind him with crisp and on-time rotations.
Most importantly, Millsap is playing at an All-NBA level defensively. The 33-year-old, fully healthy, is anchoring the Nuggets’ defense. Opponents are shooting just 36.8 percent from the field and 24.6 percent from three when Millsap is on the floor. He’s also covering for his teammates’ mistakes too — something he’s done time and time again over his 12-year-career.
That’s what’s been most impressive about the Nuggets and their defense so far. They’re making multiple rotations on any given defensive possession. They’re playing for each other and not for just themselves. All five players are connected on a string and are moving as one, something that hasn’t been the case in recent years.
“You always want to have your brother’s back on the court,” Craig said.
That mindset, both on offense and defense, is now ingrained deep within Denver’s culture. And it stems straight from the Nuggets’ locker room and their selfless star at the center of it: Nikola Jokic.
