Nikola Jokić and Cam Johnson have explained the behind-the-back assist from Denver's preseason opener against Utah. The NBA's newly published account concerns a play from 4 October, rather than a game newly staged on the report's publication date.
A pass travels through the defence
Jokić was backing down Lauri Markkanen in the strong-side corner when he spotted Johnson. He sent a behind-the-back pass along the baseline, past three defenders and directly into his teammate's hands for an open three-point opportunity.
Johnson emphasised how quickly the ball arrived and how little adjustment he needed to receive it. His account complements Jokić's description of recognising the opening.
The notable elements are therefore the route through the defence, the speed and the accuracy, as well as the behind-the-back technique itself. Those are the details the two players revisited with NBA staff.
A personal favourite, not an official ranking
Jokić says ideas for such passes often occur to him, although he still needs to practise them. Asked where this one belonged among his assists, he suggested it could be at the top of his personal favourites.
That assessment is the player's own preference. It is not an award or an official ranking of every NBA pass, and the article does not provide independently checked audience totals.
The new information is the players' explanation of an earlier preseason moment. The 4 October Nuggets–Jazz fixture remains an earlier event, and the assist should be distinguished from regular-season statistical totals.