It was an insane risk-taking, and yet, it happened! Author of a triple-double against the Warriors, Nikola Jokic gave his whole side a cold sweat with a risky last pass for Bruce Brown. A “quarterback” pass, on a throw-in, as he has already managed dozens in his career, and this one hit the mark with this dunk from Brown to validate the victory of the Nuggets.
“I took a risk but Bruce was unmarked. It’s instinctive. I saw him alone and threw the ball. It was only afterwards that I thought about it” smiles the center of the Nuggets. It was his 10th assist of the game, the one that validates his 77th career triple-double!
During the match, Jokic was seen taking the tablet at time-outs to explain to his new teammates where to stand. We saw him make a crazy pass on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the opposite corner. We know how awesome he is, but it’s still just as impressive. Except for his coach.
“Frankly, we’ve been working together for eight years now and nothing surprises me” assures Mike Malone. “There have been so many important matches, so many moments when he made an important action, the right gesture, the action that changed the course of the match… His game intelligence goes beyond everything. He plays chess, when many others play checkers”.
His new teammates must therefore learn to play with such a genius. “They must be demarcated,” he warns them. He thinks of Brown and Caldwell-Pope who have just arrived. Both heard the message.
“If you ask Bruce and ‘Kenny Pope’, they’ll probably tell you that they admired Jokic’s passes when they played against him. But it’s different to watch and be with him now.” reminds Malone. “Nikola makes the game so easy, but you have to be ready to receive the ball! ».
