LA JOLLA, Calif. – Even after a nearly 18-month absence, the institutional knowledge between Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray is still there.
Spearheading the first unit as the Nuggets closed Day 2 of training camp with a scrimmage, there was one of the NBA’s most lethal duos picking, popping and operating.
“It was fun,” Jokic said. “Like I said, it feels really natural, it feels easy. I think we’re gonna be back really soon.”
Murray said at media day on Monday that the shared chemistry between the two was so embedded that they rarely, if ever, discussed it. Last season, whether it was Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris or Will Barton, Jokic didn’t have that guy.
With Murray back on the court, he finally does.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone held new arrival Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of the scrimmage due to a sore calf, inserting Bruce Brown, another new arrival, into the starting unit. It was Brown, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., alongside the most treacherous pairing the Nuggets can offer opponents.
“It brings back so many good memories,” Malone said. “…They know each other so well and how to play off of each other. Most importantly, they know how to make each other better. I’m just thankful we have that two-man combo back.”
Even if their current form isn’t what it was during their historic playoff run in the NBA bubble.
“Jamal is not where he’s going to be in a month, two months, in five months, come playoff time,” Malone said. “It looks good, but I know it’s going to look better once Jamal gets back into game shape where he completely has no concerns about his knee. I think it’ll get back to that in a hurry, but it still looks pretty good.”
Take me out to the ballgame: On Tuesday night, Jokic, Ish Smith, DeAndre Jordan and Jeff Green caught the Dodgers-Padres game at Petco Park, as organized by Jordan and Green. Jokic said it was only the second baseball game he’d ever been to.
“Actually, I thought it was boring before, but we were in the first row,” Jokic said. “It was a little bit different.”
Whether that’s a budding subsect of the Nuggets remains to be seen, but it was a chance for all four veterans, two of them new to the team, to hang.
“I think it’s good to have veterans just so young guys see how it’s supposed (to be), especially with players who (are) long in the league like Ish, like with Jeff… DJ,” Jokic said. “… It’s good for young guys to see what you need to do and how you’re supposed to do it.”
Malone, who at times last season criticized his team for being too quiet, praised Green and Jordan for raising their voices at Wednesday’s practice. He also raved about the championship experience from Caldwell-Pope and sung Smith’s praises, who was in Denver in August and September getting acclimated to his new teammates.
“As a coach you love to have vets, because they understand the urgency, the discipline that is needed to win at a high level in this business,” Malone said. “Those guys, for being new, have done a hell of a job of creating chemistry with their teammates on and off the court, using their voice and holding themselves and holding their teammates accountable.”
Bad boy: Smith, a longtime NBA journeyman, was asked what the perception around the NBA is about Jokic.
“The perception is he’s a two-time MVP, and he’s a bad boy,” Smith said.
