In the weeks following Michael Malone's late-season firing from the Denver Nuggets, we've seen glimpses of Nikola Jokić clearly taking on a more vocal player-coaching role with his teammates. Interim head coach David Adelman's steady approach to asking Nuggets players to take more of a personal responsibility for their play has likely resonated with the three-time MVP the most of all.

ESPN's Shams Charania believes Nikola Jokić has become more "comfortable" with his leadership role on the Denver Nuggets since the front office turnover at the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

The play of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who has recorded three double doubles in the first six games of the Denver Nuggets’ first-round Western Conference series against the Los Angeles Clippers, could very well determine the outcome of Saturday night’s Game 7 at Ball Arena in downtown Denver.