Billy HeyenTue, November 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM UTC·1 min readNuggets' Nikola Jokic made a pass so crazy the Grizzlies' bench couldn't hide their reactions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There are few things better in the NBA than when an opposition bench can't hide their reactions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUsually, it'd make sense for an opponent to stay pretty stoic when they watch something good happen for the other team.
But once in a while, the thing the other team does is so remarkable that a reaction comes out instinctively.
That's what happened on Monday night with the Denver Nuggets taking on the Memphis Grizzlies.
More simply, Nikola Jokic happened.
He worked a move backing down his defender along the right side of the lane, and Jokic saw a cutting teammate.
There wasn't an obvious pass angle, so Jokic somehow threw a behind-the-back lefty bounce pass that also went behind the defender's back, right into his teammate's arms for a wide-open layup.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMultiple players on the Grizzlies bench couldn't help but half-jump out of their seats for something their opponent did.
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This was on the same night that Jokic hit a remarkably casual buzzer beater to end the third quarter from half court.
It's also a night where he went for 17 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists and two steals.
It all feels so normal, yet it's clear that sometimes, Jokic remains quite remarkable.
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