Sean Payton had high praise for Nikola Jokic in Indianapolis

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets got back on track Monday with a 125-116 win over the Indiana Pacers, highlighted by Jokic racking up a career-high 19 assists. Another high-profile Denver sports figure was at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the contest, as Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton stopped by.

Payton is in Indianapolis for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, where he and Broncos general manager George Paton will be scouting some of the top talent in the upcoming NFL Draft to build off the Broncos’ first playoff appearance since 2015.

When asked about Jokic, arguably the most valuable draft pick in NBA history (selected 41st overall in 2014), one of the NFL’s best evaluators of talent had high praise for the Serbian superstar.

“It’s one thing to pass,” Payton said in an interview Monday. “You also see someone who catches and has got real soft hands. I think what’s very underrated or never discussed is how someone can accept a pass… he seems to have that.”

Jokic is known for having some of the best hands in the league with his ability to quickly receive and dish out an assist to a teammate and to get second-chance points on the offensive glass. Despite the passing ability which resulted in a career high 19 assists against the Pacers, Payton wouldn’t put Jokic at quarterback if he was in the orange and blue.

“I see a tight end, I don’t see a quarterback,” Payton said. “I think that’s the reason [Michael Malone] has kept me away from the warmup here. We probably can’t pay him as much as he gets paid…”

The two head coaches also had time to catch up with one another pregame on Monday and shared words of wisdom back and forth.

Mike High Coaches! 🗣️#Broncos head coach Sean Payton and #Nuggets head coach Michael Malone chatting it up before tonight’s Nuggets game! #9sports pic.twitter.com/Kfc8vA2dTa

— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) February 24, 2025

“I didn’t fully realize the extent of which he is a basketball guy, he’s a basketball junkie…” Malone said postgame Monday. “I thanked him for the job he’s done for the Broncos… I’ve been here for 10 years and I’ve seen quite a few Broncos coaches come and go, and for them to make the playoffs this year and to see the city get so excited… that was fun to see.”

Payton will speak to the media at 12:15 on Tuesday alongside George Paton. The workouts for the Combine start at 1 p.m. MT on Thursday with the defensive linemen and linebackers as Payton evaluates talent for who he wants to select in the first round with the 20th overall pick, along with Denver’s six other later-round picks in hopes of finding a hidden gem like the Nuggets did 11 years ago.

For the Nuggets, they continue their four-game road trip on Thursday with a clash against the Milwaukee Bucks before heading to Detroit and Boston. Thursday’s game tips off at 6:00 p.m. MT on TNT