Cleveland Cavaliers’ Peyton Watson Credits Nikola Jokic for Helping Him Become a Better Player

· Yahoo Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers recently held an introductory press conference for Peyton Watson, whom they acquired via a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets this offseason.

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During the media availability, the 24-year-old forward talked about his ability to play off stars. He suited up for the Denver Nuggets for the first four years of his NBA career, and the newly minted Cleveland Cavaliers player shared his main takeaways from playing alongside Nikola Jokic, which he can use when he plays alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

Jan 2, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) chases after a loose ball during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

“I think my IQ for the game has gotten a lot better just playing with him. Knowing the right places to be at the right time and knowing how to play with a superstar is something that’s invaluable in this league with so much talent,” Watson said of Jokic. “I think you need to always know how to play off of other players and how to make other players better, even if you don’t necessarily have the ball in your hands.”

“Especially given the track record of some of the talented guys in this league. You know, coming into Denver, I just wanted to find ways to keep myself on the court, and that was one of those things that not only helped me individually, but also helped my career,” he ended.

Dec 27, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) controls the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavaliers News: Peyton Watson credits James Harden for recruiting him to The Land

Peyton Watson also revealed at the press conference that James Harden recruited him hard to join the Cleveland Cavaliers, which made him feel valued and wanted during his restricted free agency.

“Just getting a call or text from him throughout my process to let me know the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested. Not only that, but he, individually, is interested in playing with me as a player. It feels like I can mesh well on this team. That matters a lot because obviously he has one of the great basketball minds we’ve ever seen,” Watson said of Harden.

“Being embraced by him immediately was something that was very flattering to me because I’ve worked my whole life. We don’t seek validation, but it’s always good to be validated. I was super, super blessed to hear from him, and it made me more excited about what my role could be on the team,” he added.

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