Nikola Jokic Reacts To Nuggets Game 3 vs Lakers | May 20, 2023

Nikola, what does it say about your team that you guys didn't necessarily need to win this game, but you come in and added to it. You needed to win tonight? I mean, it's a playoff. It's a must-win every game. It's a must-win, I think. I mean, we came here with, I think, a good focus, a good mindset. We played the game really well, really good. Oh, my God. The whole focus was really, really... We had a couple of misunderstandings and miscommunications, but I think, globally, it was good. They scored 108 points. I think that's a really good number. In the second quarter, they had 30-something, but I think, globally, it's a really good game for us. What was the, oh, my God? Nothing. I was just... Well, maybe you can help us out with some descriptions, some descriptors for Jamal Murray when he's cooking like he was in the first half. What was your vantage point of that? I mean, just get him open. Just get him the ball and get him open. I think it's so cool to see when everybody's like, just get him the ball and scream for him, do something, just make them make some kind of little mistake so he can go and work. Nicola, Michael Malone said that you were coaching them up in the fourth quarter. He gave you credit for saying, let's go to the two-man game. What is Coach Jokic like? I don't know. I don't want to be a coach. That's the worst job on the planet, for sure. After all you've done in the last couple of postseasons, playing without Jamal and Michael Porter Jr., what did it feel like for you tonight when you're in foul trouble in the first three quarters, but you're not hitting shots you normally make, and to see this team pull it out and win? I mean, I never doubted my team, and I know they're capable. You see in the third quarter, KCP had a huge, huge one segment, like four minutes, and he had a big box out on AD. He had a steal. He had a big three. Two big threes, or one big three. So, I mean, you know, we have some really good players that can step up in the right moment, and that's what we did. You know, like Om just mentioned, by your standards, you weren't in a rhythm for the first few quarters in foul trouble. What got you going in the fourth quarter offensively? I was not in a rhythm. I mean, Jamal was getting me. I was just trying to open my man up. I mean, you know, I think when someone gets going, just give him the ball until he gets cold, you know. So, I think I played good. I mean, I didn't score. Yes, I missed a couple layups or shots or whatever, but I think I was focused, and I was ready to go. Ramona. Nicola, how much is just your playoff experience over the last five, six years? I think you've been past the first round many times. How much does that pay off in a series like this, even if you can go back to the 2020 series when you were in a similar spot against this team? I think it's zero because every game is different. You maybe just have experience of being here, whatever, or the game, every game matters, but I think it's zero because every game is different. Everything is a different team, different coach, different, and we are different. So, I think it's zero, me personally. Nicola, I know you said you don't want to be a coach, but Jamal said that in your best English you were coaching the guys through that fourth quarter. Was it your best English, and what can you share? I know you don't want to be a coach, but what can you share about what you were telling your guys? I mean, we had an action that was working, and there's some details that can help us get open shots, I think. But when I'm trying to say something fast, my English is really – I mean, now it's bad, but when I'm trying to say something fast, it's extremely bad. Nicola, right here. 30 assists tonight for you guys. Malone pointed that out a couple minutes ago. How happy are you to see your team, you know, in a game like this, a big game on the road that you guys, you know, still go back to that team-first style of basketball that, you know, of course that is central to your game? Yeah, I love it. I mean, just because then you can see everybody's moving. I think that's hard to guard when we are passing the ball. Like Mike had six, A.G. had four. Who's this? I got eight. Jamal had six. Bruce had four. Like, it's so – I think it's – how do you say when you're like poisoned? Not poisoned. Contagious. Contagious, yeah. Contagious, and I love it. I think that's the best brand of basketball. At least everybody's enjoying it, you know. Nicola, you represent the greatness of FIBA basketball and the great talent that is outside of the U.S. Are you aware of that? Yes, I mean, but I still think U.S.A. has a lot to offer. They are – in the last how many years, every time they won it just when Spain won it. But I think we, European basketball or non-American basketball can offer a lot of interesting quality basketball, and I think it's really fun and interesting to see different style of basketball, different players, different style of players, you know. So even if you follow Euroleague or whatever, it's different, but it's still interesting. Nicola, guys often say that closeout games are the hardest ones to win, let alone the ones that give you a spot in the finals. What are you expecting to change? What are you expecting to be more challenging? Why is that? I mean, to be honest, I'm not going to say that I'm scared, but I'm worried because they have LeBron on the other side, and he's capable of doing everything. We're going to come here with the same mindset, same focus, and I think that's going to put the situation to win a game. But we never know. But they're going to be aggressive. Of course, they're going to be extra physical, extra – they're going to run more, everything's going to be on a different level or one more of anything. So we will see. Jokic, postgame I met your brother and Amalia and your family. They were all here. How happy are you when you saw your family come here to cheer for you? Yes, I mean, they're following me since day one, eight, nine years ago. So it's always good to have someone on your side. So it's great. Nicola, KCP was talking about how you felt like you guys missed an opportunity in Phoenix when you came out on the road. How did coming to L.A. this time around feel different in terms of your approach and your mentality? Mine, zero. I mean, I'm really focused on every game, and I think every game matters. Not just playoff, I think I play every game the same way. I think if you put your mindset like that, every game is going to be similar to you. Not similar, but you're going to have the same approach, and that's going to help you through the season or through your career or whatever. Thank you very much. Thank you, guys. Pleasure to call you.