Charles Barkley Cheers as Nikola Jokic Steps Up Following Mike Malone’s Departure

After getting past the Los Angeles Clippers in the close-fought series, the Denver Nuggets astonished everybody by claiming victory in the opening match away against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the Western Conference Semifinals. At the forefront was, as usual, Nikola Jokic , who recorded an impressive double-double with 42 points and 22 rebounds, maintaining a shooting percentage of 51.7% from the field.

Entering Game 1, the Thunder were heavily expected to secure victory due to their strong regular season performance and home-field edge. Nonetheless, the Nuggets countered every move, led once more by Aaron Gordon’s stellar play under pressure, who nailed the crucial three-pointer for the winning score.

Snatching OKC's home-court edge in the series, Jokic and crew turned the tide their way. Breaking down Game One on TNT's Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley illuminate how "The Joker" has taken control of the squad, as shown through his emotional displays during the game.

So long as they have that guy (Jokic), people will keep believing. He likely gets along well with Coach Adams, and Coach Malone definitely did an excellent job. said Barkley.

"He is talking control of that team. You've seen him be more animated and emotional. It's all happened in the last month. We've been covering this team for years, and "The Joker" never show emotions," Chuck pointed out.

The Nuggets faced many challenges during the season. Their defense was quite problematic, and they had issues with bench production throughout the season. However, the biggest shock was the decision to part ways with their head coach and GM a month before the postseason started.

Ending a ten-year association with Coach Malone

Although whispers of discord between Malone and Booth existed, nobody anticipated the removal of these two crucial figures so early in the season at game 79. However, President Josh Kroenke had been contemplating this change for some time.

The aim behind Kroenka's choice was to bring fresh positivity into the team environment before the playoffs. Assisted by David Adelman—who has been part of the organization since the 2017-18 campaign—Malone stepped aside as the interim leader took charge for the final three matches of the season, securing an undefeated record of 3-0.

Adelman showed signs of inexperience at various points during the first-round game against the Clippers. Despite this, he won thanks to Jokic’s support and his own determination as a 43-year-old competitor.

Related: "I knew my days with the Celtics were over” - Larry Bird admits his love for Boston ended when the team traded his favorite teammate

Jokic's basketball mind

One can certainly not deny that there is a certain uniqueness to Jokic's game. The three-time MVP's ability to contribute on all ends is something special. Standing close to seven feet, the Serbian talent possesses rare playmaking skills, making him a scorer and facilitator.

It appears routine for Jokic to excel across every facet of the game, thanks to his high basketball intelligence, which allows him to influence play in numerous manners. A leading candidate for MVP this year, the seven-time All-Star has made history as the first center in NBA annals to achieve a regular-season triple-double average.

The Nuggets haven't been the same since winning the 2023 championship. After losing Game 7 at home in the 2024 semi-finals against the Timberwolves, Jokic doesn't want to let go of another opportunity and is willing to assume some of the coaching responsibilities for the team.

Related: "Saw the downside of an analytics ending" - Chris Mannix says OKC's reliance on analytics cost them Game 1 vs. Denver