NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 7, 2023

Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets

Game 3: Postgame

Denver Nuggets 109, Miami Heat 94

Q. When Jamal can do that for your team and play such an overall game, how much does it benefit you guys?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, we win. I think it's pretty simple. But he's playing phenomenal, I think, the whole playoff. We're just following him, like I said, and he's a really good leader. His energy is amazing, and we are just following.

Q. Did you agree that the only way that your team lose these Finals is if your team, including yourself, made mistakes like the lack of effort that Coach Malone said the reason losing the Game 2?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, it doesn't help when you miscommunication or stupid turnovers or whatever. But they're a good team, and we need to give them the respect. It's not just us. They are playing, too. I think it's a really interesting series.

We just got one today.

Q. I know you're not a guy who cares a lot about your stats, but when you have a line that's never been accomplished before in Finals history, what do you think of that?

NIKOLA JOKIC: To be honest, I just think it's a win because if you lose, nobody is going to even mention -- even to be honest, I don't care. It's just a stat.

Q. You and Jamal have had so many giant games together, but you made history tonight with the two [30-point] triple-doubles. How would you describe you guys' chemistry, and also off the court. How would you explain the dynamic that you guys have?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, I think it's just respect of each other and relationship over the years and communication, and I think -- but it's not just us. I'm always saying yes, we had good games, but Christian Braun had amazing game, Bruce had a really good game, Jeff played really well, AG played really good.

It's not just us, it's the team, and like I said even before the series started, Denver Nuggets need to beat Miami, not me and Jamal and whoever is on the other side. We as a group need to beat them.

Q. Of all the games you and Jamal played together, did this feel like the most in control you two have been? Also Jamal is the first player in Finals history to have 10 assists in each of his first three Finals games. How much more dangerous does that make that Jamal?

NIKOLA JOKIC: He's reading the game really well. He's getting guys involved, and I think he's mature, if that makes any sense, and he knows where to find the guys and how to control the game.

On the first question, I don't know if it's the best or -- I don't know. We're just trying to win a game right now. We can think about that later.

Q. You in the past have said about Christian Braun, you just call him a winner. He's a winner. When you see him play like he did tonight, what are your thoughts? Two, what did you get a chance to say to him after the game?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, I told him, you won us the game. Like you said, he's a winner, and he won us the game, with energy, just the focus, the mindset. Even when he make a mistake, it's an aggressive mistake, so you cannot be mad at him. I always say that.

He won us the game, and he was really good tonight.

Q. In the locker room your teammates said you really needed this punch in the mouth in Game 2 to find your intensity and focus. Do you think now you got to play your best basketball as a team, and what can you still improve?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Yes. I mean, this is the right time if you're going to play your best basketball, I think this is the right time to play your best basketball.

But I think, like you said, the team is really important, yes. A couple guys maybe didn't make shots or they didn't play well, but there is other guys who can step up and fill that position and be even better.

Is this the best basketball that we've played? I don't know. As long as we're winning games, I think.

Q. Nikola, Michael Malone said that it might have been a good thing for the team that you guys lost Game 2 at home, that it was a big wake-up call. We all know how much you want to win a championship. For you personally, what were the last couple of days like for you leading up to your huge game tonight?

NIKOLA JOKIC: When you lose the game, of course it's a bad atmosphere, whatever, it's a bad momentum. But maybe help us to refocus and just be better in the details. But that doesn't mean that we can relax now or whatever. We need to have the same effort because they're going to be even better. So we need just to have the same or better focus and effort in Game 4.

Q. I'm curious from your perspective, I think the Nuggets are 0-4 when you score 40 or more points, but I think you're 12-5 when you have 10 or more assists. What, if any, correlation is there between you getting you guys involved versus you scoring?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I really don't know, my friend. That's a good question. I'm just trying to -- when you play the game, sometimes it's open, sometimes it's not, sometimes you shoot, you make, you miss. We really don't think that when you play. I really don't have an answer for you. My bad.

Q. Did you see anything different from the way they were approaching you and Jamal in the pick-and-roll tonight? Seemed like sometimes they were a little bit more high pressure. How did you guys handle that?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think we saw everything. I'm always saying that's why they're so great. They have so many defenses, and they're really good in every defense that they're putting out there. They are so aggressive, they are playing on the passing lanes, they are into the guards. Even in the zone they are so active. Everybody is moving.

Then in one moment they are blitzing Jamal.

That's why they are so dangerous and they are so affecting the game, and they're changing the momentum of the game and speed of the game.

Q. The dinner you guys had at Jeff Green's house was very well documented. To what extent is tonight's victory a psychological victory and to what extent is that a result of great team building like that dinner?

NIKOLA JOKIC: He has a nice house. (Laughter). Yes, he has a nice house.

Yes, I mean, Jeff is a 27-year-old veteran. He's a guy who -- he's so professional. I think all the young guys that come into the league or just if they have the opportunity to talk to him or to see his work ethic and see how he is approaching the game, the practice, the workout, the weight lifting. He's really professional, and that's why he's so, so long in the league. Having us in his house, it's a really nice thing of him, and hopefully one time we can come to celebrate a little bit better.