Rakija, apple pie and a night of team bonding: How Peyton Watson and the Nuggets locked in for the playoffs

It was 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, the night of the Lakers-Pelicans play-in game, and Peyton Watson was on the way to Nikola Jokic’s house when his phone buzzed.

It was a text from Jokic wondering his ETA along with a photo of the reigning Finals MVP’s legs submerged in the water of his pristine, newly finished pool.

“Where are you, brother?” Jokic asked, even though the official start time of the night’s festivities was set for 5:30.

Watson arrived five minutes later to what’s become a yearly Nuggets tradition. Before the playoffs begin, Jokic invites his teammates over to watch the play-in games and get an early scout on who Denver’s first-round opponent will be.

It’s an event that signifies the regular season is over and the playoffs are about to begin. It represents a turning of the page. It’s officially time to lock in. It’s time to win another championship.

“I feel like Joker sees greatness in our team,” Watson told DNVR. “He thinks that this team is another team capable of winning it all.”

The spread at the Joker compound that night sounded immaculate. Chicken wings, quesadillas, sliders, and other finger foods all served up by Jokic’s private chefs. Rakija, the national drink of choice in Serbia, was also flowing and poured from custom bottles engraved with the name “Jokic.”

Also, the dessert.

“The apple pie,” said Watson. “That was incredible.”

The Nuggets then settled in to watch their future playoff opponent in action. Lakers-Pelicans was a close game throughout. Watson said one in the room was pulling for one team or the other to win, but when the Lakers went up by double-digits in the fourth quarter, some players started rooting for a Pelicans comeback. If anything, New Orleans could tire the Lakers out a little.

It was a night full of team bonding, camaraderie, and laughs.

One player even went for a swim in Jokic’s pool: DeAndre Jordan, who arrived early.

For Watson, who at 21 years old is still the youngest player on Denver’s roster, these playoffs represent the biggest moment of his young career. After spending his rookie year mainly in the G League, Watson has become an integral part of the Nuggets’ rotation in his second season.

He’s made his impact mostly on the defensive end of the floor where the 6-foot-8 forward has become a game-changing presence. Watson leads the Nuggets in total blocks this season (he has 20 more blocks than Jokic who ranks second) despite playing the eighth most minutes on the roster. Watson also ranks second in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage (minimum 1,000 minutes) and has the top DFG% in the league out of all non-centers.

Just this month, Watson has had games of six blocks (in 23 minutes) and five blocks (in 27 minutes). He’s also helped bolster a Nuggets defense that’s ranked around league average over the last few years. This season, Denver’s has been the eighth-best defense in the NBA. It’s the highest the Nuggets have finished in defensive rating in the Jokic era.

Every Watson block feels like a momentum-changing play.

All 6 Blocks By Peyton (s)Watson in his career high blocks night: pic.twitter.com/LMb9VCmsW1

— PwatMuse (@PwatMuse) April 11, 2024

Last year, Watson wasn’t in the Nuggets’ playoff rotation, although a strong defensive showing in Denver’s final few regular season games made Denver’s coaching staff think twice about playing him in the postseason. So Watson stayed ready anyway.

He didn’t end up logging rotation minutes during last season’s championship run, but Watson poured over opponent film and studied scouting reports front to back like he was in line for playing time. He’s taken the same approach over the last couple of days now that he’s going to be on the floor in the playoffs against an opponent that the Nuggets feel very familiar with.

“We played this same team four times this season,” said Watson. “So we know their tendencies. We know what they’re going to do. But they know what we’re going to do too.”

Watson’s job description in these playoffs is simple. He needs to be a pest on defense. He needs to be an irritant. When the Lakers drive into the paint, Watson has to be there to block shots, disrupt their offense, and throw them off-kilter.

On the opposite end of the floor, Watson believes his offensive game has leveled up over the last several months. Post-practice shooting sessions, like the one he went through Thursday afternoon with shooting coach Mike Penberthy, have increased his confidence in his jumpshot. Watson and Penberthy, who was hired and brought in by general manager Calvin Booth, have worked on refining his shot and mechanics over the last two seasons.

This week, ahead of his first real playoff minutes, Jokic said that Watson needs to, “go crazy.”

Watson took that as a directive to turn his energy up to a different level.

“It means going out there and playing like a madman, like my hair’s on fire,” Watson said about Jokic’s comment. “Running around, getting deflections, loose balls, blocking shots, offensive rebounds, put-backs, defending in transition. I’m definitely going to be able to turn it up a notch in the playoffs. And just be more focused.”

Another section of Watson’s playoff job description? Guarding LeBron James.

James logs a lot of minutes against opponent second units, so Aaron Goron, who morphs into the Nuggets’ backup center in the postseason, will surely shadow him when the two share the floor. But with no Jeff Green — his height and strength were valuable in last season’s series vs. James — Watson will have to occasionally check the Lakers’ forward.

“There’s no situation he hasn’t seen before,” Watson said of James. “He’s played at the highest level of basketball since he was 18 years old. I mean, just the experience that he has, the knowledge of the game, I think that’s what really is his biggest advantage. I think that’s going to be the hardest part about guarding him, it’s just staying disciplined and doing my best to disrupt him and make him uncomfortable.”

This series will be a surreal experience for Watson. He’s from Los Angeles. He went to high school in Long Beach and college for a year at UCLA. The Lakers are his hometown team, although Watson recently proclaimed that it’s, “Mile High forever.” He’ll have friends and family filling the Crypto.com Arena stands when the Nuggets go on the road.

He’s ready for what awaits him and the Nuggets over the next couple of months.

He’s ready for playoff basketball.

“I’m locked in,” Watson told DNVR. “I just feel so excited. I’m ready to go out and play.”