Mike Malone explained how Nikola Jokić honored Dejan Milojević as the Nuggets ended Celtics’ home winning streak

After a tough personal week, Nikola Jokić showed he has the heart of a champion.

The Boston Celtics were supposed to be unbeatable at home, starting the 2023 season on a 20-game winning streak. And even though they were set to square off against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, it wasn’t clear how Nikola Jokić would play after his mentor and old Serbian coach, Dejan Milojević, died earlier this week.

Let this be a lesson to everyone that you never underestimate the heart of a champion.

In a grind-it-out battle more reminiscent of June than January, Jokić (and Jamal Murray) led the Nuggets’ to a massive 102-100 win in Boston. Jokić, in particular, while battling his heavy heart, delivered a masterful 34-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist performance to take the Celtics from 20-0 to 20-1 at home. In a measuring stick game for his team, Jokić brought his absolute best even while grieving.

In the postgame, it was this sort of professionalism from the best NBA player in the world that Denver head coach Mike Malone was so appreciative of:

Man, is someone cutting onions? Let’s rewind the meat of this Malone speech about Jokić’s toughness under challenging circumstances.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Nikola [Jokić] for playing the way he played with the tragic passing of Deki [Milojević]. That’s what you do, though. That’s why I’m proud of Nikola. Like you just love somebody that you love and care about that meant a lot to you, that was a mentor and coach to you. So, go honor him, you know what I mean? Nikola went out there. He honored Deki’s memory and his legacy by playing at the level he played at. Not easy to do with a heavy heart, but Nikola’s a special person, obviously. It was incredible to watch him play with that heavy heart and the level he played against when you consider who we’re playing, and you add everything else to the mix. That’s why Nikola’s the best player in the world.”

I don’t think anyone could’ve said it better. After losing perhaps the most important person of his basketball life, Jokić delivered a picture-perfect game in a heavyweight road win over the team with the best record in the NBA. If that doesn’t tell you who Jokić is as a player and a person, I don’t know what will.