Are there any stories or moments from when you were there that really showed his greatness on the court?

Honestly, what stands out most to me is when I first arrived with the team. I got there pretty early, and within the first month he ended up getting injured. This was right after the loss to the Clippers, during that championship season. I had just gotten there and he went down.

On game day, he still showed up at the arena, doing rehab and treatment and everything. I honestly thought he wouldn’t be around for the game. But when I came out, there he was — of course he was there. Cheering, talking, fully engaged with everything happening on the floor.

But what really shocked me was right after the game ended. As soon as the huddle broke, he immediately changed out of his suit — jeans, whatever he was wearing — straight into workout clothes. He was the first person in the weight room, lifting with crazy intensity and focus, and then went straight to the court to get shots up.

The intensity, the attention to detail — he wants every rep to be perfect. Watching how he attacked his workouts, that mindset… and this happened three straight games. That’s when it hit me: “These are the little things that separate guys.”

Especially when you’re his teammate, or even just observing from the outside at first. People always say he doesn’t love basketball, that it’s just a job for him. I remember telling people close to me,
“If it’s a job for him, he’s the type who wants to be Employee of the Week. Employee of the Month.”

He understands what he means to the game, what he means to the team, and what’s required of him every single night. Just watching the way he works was special.

The second story was during the last season I played with him. We had a scrimmage — like a Blue vs. White game. The Nuggets did one too. He and Jamal Murray were coaching against Aaron Gordon and KCP.

It comes down to the final possession and we need a shot. He walks straight up to the board and tells the young guys — guys who hadn’t really played in the NBA yet:
“Who wants a wide-open three to tie the game?”

I’m looking around like, “That’s some confidence right there.” I almost raised my hand to check myself back in.

He draws up the play and while he’s writing he says,
“You’re going to be in the left corner. Wide open. Nobody’s going to see it. Just be ready to shoot.”

When it actually happened, it felt like a movie. Just like his no-look passes in games. As soon as the screen came, the ball was already in the air — nobody even saw it. I’m watching the ball float and looking at him at the same time thinking,
“Wait… did you really just draw that up perfectly?”

The ball drops right into the guy’s lap in the left corner. Unfortunately, the shot didn’t go in. But I was completely mesmerized. I thought,
“This guy understands the game on a totally different level.”

His basketball IQ can literally bend the game. And when you pair that with other high-IQ players, detailed coaching, and a great culture — that’s when the world gets to see his greatness.

The coolest part was talking to DeAndre Jordan. He told me about Jokic the year before, and then I got to see his continued growth firsthand. DeAndre said the biggest change was his leadership — Jokic becoming more vocal and assertive.

There were times in timeouts where he’d say straight up,
“This play, we’re getting a layup.”

And then you’d come out and it would happen exactly like that. Being able to play the game while also controlling it like a coach — that’s what separates the truly special ones.

Do you see him potentially becoming a coach one day?

Honestly, all of us say we wouldn’t want to coach. But if I’m being real… if he could still spend enough time with his family and his horses — which he loves — I could see it.

He has one of those basketball minds you’d love to see play out even after he’s done playing — teaching the game, passing it on to others.

He’s incredibly intelligent.
Truly a very special human being.