By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
More help for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets? Peyton Watson has a task set by the Joker and hopes to emerge as the next star for the defending NBA champions.
“I’ll never forget what he said to me and it’s something I’ll always keep with me,” the 21-year-old swingman told DNVR, referring to Jokic.
Jokic, 28, arranged the requirements to earn his trust. “You are gonna have to do the things that nobody else wants to do,” was the message.
“It’s coming from one of the greatest players ever to touch on basketball,” added Watson.
Coming out of UCLA, the Nuggets picked him up with the 30th pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Averaging 3.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game painted the picture of his contributions in the Regular Season. In a limited role in the Playoffs as well, he tallied 1.0 points per game over five appearances.
“He’s taken me under his wing. He wants the best for me and knows that I’m gonna have a big role this year,” mentioned Watson on his relationship with the Serbian superstar, MVP of the 2023 NBA Finals.
“I watch everything he does,” he said, “He does everything the right way every day. He doesn’t cut any corners. I really watch all those things because I want to be on that level one day. I feel like I can be an All-NBA player one day.”
The Nuggets will open the 2023 NBA Preseason schedule by meeting the Phoenix Suns in Footprint Center today, Tuesday.
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