Most young NBA players thank a skills trainer, a shooting guru, or a veteran teammate when their game takes off. Peyton Watson thanks a three-time MVP.
Since landing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Watson has spoken candidly about how his early years alongside Nikola Jokić in Denver reshaped his understanding of basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Peyton Watson credits Nikola Jokic for helping him become a better player in ways that go well beyond highlight reels - this is about learning to think the game at an elite level.
The Unexpected Mentor: A Young Wing Learning From a Savant
When Watson arrived in Denver as the 30th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, he was a raw, springy wing - elite physical tools, shaky jumper. What he didn’t anticipate was a front-row seat to the most unorthodox basketball mind of his generation.
“He taught me to move before the play even happens,” Watson said of Jokić. “Watching him every day, you realize the game is solved before the ball touches your hands.”
That education unfolded during Denver’s 2023 championship run, with Watson soaking up everything as a rookie. He wasn’t just learning from film sessions. He was learning from the floor, night after night, next to a player who sees passes three moves ahead.
“You learn how to cut, how to space, how to read defenses before they rotate,” Watson added. “That’s stuff you can’t teach in a gym.”
It’s the kind of organic mentorship that rarely grabs headlines, but it’s exactly what turns toolsy prospects into winning players. Sometimes the most valuable development happens in the huddle, not the lab.
📊 3x NBA MVP Nikola Jokić (2021, 2022, 2024) - The only center in league history to win three MVP awards in a four-year span, per Basketball Reference.
What Jokić Actually Taught Him
Here’s the crucial distinction: Watson isn’t trying to become Jokić. He’s trying to adopt the processing.
That means slowing the game down instead of bulldozing into traffic. Reading angles from a defensive perspective. Understanding passing lanes even when he’s the one being guarded. Timing the cut before the drive, not after.
That shift shows up in the details. Watson’s decision-making with the ball has tightened. His off-ball movement is more purposeful. His defensive rotations have sharper anticipation. These are winning-basketball traits - the kind that don’t always show up in a box score but show up in the win column.
Cleveland’s coaching staff has taken notice. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has praised Watson’s defensive versatility and willingness to guard multiple positions, calling him “a connector who makes winning plays.”
| Season | Team | Games | PPG | RPG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Denver Nuggets | 23 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 49.2% |
| 2023-24 | Denver Nuggets | 80 | 6.7 | 3.2 | 46.5% |
| 2024-25 | Denver Nuggets | 68 | 8.1 | 3.4 | 47.7% |
| 2025-26 | Cleveland Cavaliers | - | - | - | - |
Note: 2025-26 Cleveland statistics reflect his current tenure with the Cavaliers. Source: Basketball Reference.
📊 Watson’s minutes jumped from 3.3 PPG as a rookie to 8.1 PPG by 2024-25 - a steady climb built on defensive trust and improved shot selection.
Why This Matters for Watson’s Next Chapter
The Jokić effect isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a blueprint. Watson now carries those lessons into a Cavaliers locker room built around Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland. Cleveland’s roster is loaded with playmakers who thrive on ball movement and defensive versatility - exactly the style Watson was groomed to fit.
If he keeps translating that IQ into production - cutting hard, defending the perimeter, making the extra pass - the leap from intriguing prospect to reliable contributor is just a matter of reps.
