The Denver Nuggets secured a crucial win against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
Besides Jamal Murray dropping 37 points on his rivals, Nikola Jokic also played a key role in this win.
The Serbian big man isn’t getting as much attention as before, but he’s not worried about it and in fact, is trying to help his teammates however he can.
For instance, head coach Michael Malone revealed that Jokic sent two plays for himself and Murray that worked wonders for the Nuggets.
"[Nikola Jokic] said on the bench 'let's go to this play, let me & Jamal [Murray] play'…. and we milked that down the stretch. Coach Jokic did a great job tonight."
Mike Malone on letting the Joker decide the action to run during Game 3 vs. Lakers.pic.twitter.com/kcO03WkcDy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 21, 2023
Jokic was then asked about a potential coaching future in the NBA, and the two-time NBA MVP made it clear he won’t test those waters, per Harrison Wind.
Nikola Jokic on "Coach Jokic": "I don't want to be a coach. That's the worst job on the planet for sure."
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) May 21, 2023
The way he plays and reads the game, it’s easy to say that Jokic would be a terrific coach in the NBA.
However, it seems like that’s not in his interest.
At least not right now.
Besides basketball, Jokic has a big passion for horse racing and it’s clear that he will stick to that as soon as his NBA career finishes.
Moreover, knowing how easy coaches lose their jobs in the league right now, he’s better off staying away from the sidelines.
The Nuggets are now ready to win this series and challenge whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference.
Jokic has done a terrific job for his team, and even though his numbers aren’t getting as much attention as Murray’s, his impact on the Nuggets is undeniable.
During the 2023 MVP race, he made it clear he was looking at the biggest prize and Jokic wasn’t playing around.
Denver is only five games away from winning the NBA champions and they won’t stop until the mission is completed.
NEXT: Fans React To Jamal Murray's Big Performance In Game 3
