In the weeks following Michael Malone's late-season firing from the Denver Nuggets, we've seen glimpses of Nikola Jokić clearly taking on a more vocal player-coaching role with his teammates. Interim head coach David Adelman's steady approach to asking Nuggets players to take more of a personal responsibility for their play has likely resonated with the three-time MVP the most of all.

Nikola Jokic has been unleashed since the Nuggets fired Michael Malone with a handful of games before the NBA playoffs.

A look inside the divided culture that smoldered and stretched into the Nuggets locker room and ultimately cost Michael Malone and Calvin Booth their jobs.