Nikola Jokic was blunt and unsparing when he needed to be throughout last season. It was a relatively new development, a seasoned superstar learning to use his voice publicly, learning to feel comfortable with its sway.
When the Nuggets lost to the reeling Wizards last December and fell to 11-10, he suggested pay cuts as a method of motivation. It was in jest, but maybe not completely. Jamal Murray was off to a slow start, averaging 17.8 points on 42% shooting. He had signed a max contract extension three months earlier. Later in December, he turned a corner.