Nuggets HC points out the most 'underrated' part of Nikola Jokic's game

Malone lauded his star's basketball I.Q. and tremendous anticipation skills, which he believes have made Jokic a better defensive player. Throughout the NBA playoffs, teams have had to try and slow Jokic down on the offensive end while also figuring out how to attack him on the other. 

Malone credits Jokic for taking the challenge head-on, even mentioning that he was sometimes responsible for switching on LeBron James during the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

"For 16 games now, people put Nikola in a crazy amount of pick-and-rolls," Malone said. "I think we do a pretty good job of mixing up our coverages, mixing up our levels. Sometimes he's up, sometimes he's down, sometimes we switch."

In Game 1, Jokic joined Jason Kidd as the only other player in NBA history to record a triple-double in their Finals debut, resulting in a Nuggets win. But Malone says it's Jokic's commitment to improving his defense that has the Nuggets three wins away from hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. 

"I think his maturation, the eight years, has been a big part of it as well," Malone said. "Him understanding that I have to be the best defensive player I can be to help this team become the best team that they can be, and he doesn't shy away from that responsibility."