Nikola Jokic shared candid postgame reflections Friday night after helping the Denver Nuggets come back to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-109 at Ball Arena.
The reigning MVP recorded his 34th triple-double of the season, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists in a performance that moved Denver to 49-32 on the year.
When asked if he was proud of the team’s finish, Jokic pointed to the defense that held Memphis to just 14 points in the fourth quarter, calling it “a really big victory.”
Jokic was also asked about Jamal Murray’s return after a six-game absence, noting that his teammate may have been “rushing” early but settled into a strong rhythm as the game progressed.
In the second half, interim head coach David Adelman asked Jokic to drop more in pick-and-roll coverage, an adjustment that the center described as part of an open dialogue between staff and players.
Jokic became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook, but said he was most proud of his “consistency.”
Despite the historic numbers, Jokic emphasized the importance of team-oriented basketball, especially with one regular-season game remaining and seeding implications still undecided in the Western Conference.
“It’s good for us,” he said. “Four or five games that really matter — it’s going to help us for the playoffs where everything matters every possession.”
Jokic praised Adelman’s increased communication since taking over as interim head coach, highlighting the way he encourages players to speak up and stay engaged in games.
Addressing a moment when he took over the whiteboard during a timeout, Jokic downplayed the significance, saying he simply drew “situations” and had done it before.
He revealed his voice had been weakened recently, possibly due to a minor illness shared with his young child.
Jokic endorsed Adelman’s approach of closing games with the five players performing best, calling it the right mindset and part of the sacrifice necessary for winning.
Asked about playing in front of another sold-out Denver crowd, Jokic expressed appreciation for the support, noting, “I was here when there weren’t many fans.”
He also wore a T-shirt supporting Christian Braun’s case for Most Improved Player and praised the third-year guard’s vocal leadership and two-way impact.
Jokic described Braun as someone the team would accept as a future leader and credited his growth to earning everything “step by step.”
On Aaron Gordon’s 33-point effort, Jokic revealed that many of the forward’s points came “just on dunks” and called him one of his all-time favorite teammates.
He emphasized Gordon’s selflessness in sacrificing offensive stats to guard the opponent’s top player every night.
When asked to name his other favorite teammates, Jokic declined, keeping the rest of his all-time five private.
Jokic said Gordon’s development alongside him has been a “process” and praised the forward for balancing personal growth with fulfilling team needs.
The Nuggets now hold the fourth-best record in the West and are one win away from securing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
