After losing three straight games just before the All-Star break, it looked like the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets needed a hard reset. Based on how they’ve come out of the break with three straight convincing wins — including a road blowout of the Golden State Warriors — it sure seems like they’ve found their groove again.

But rest and recovery might not be the only reason for the Nuggets looking sound and motivated again.

According to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, reigning NBA Finals MVP (and the current MVP favorite), Nikola Jokić apparently sent a galvanizing text to his teammates after the All-Star break ended. While Caldwell-Pope didn’t want to divulge what Jokić said in public, it certainly seems to have had a dramatic effect on the team’s mentality as it pursues a repeat championship:

I asked Kentavious Caldwell-Pope about what he’s noticed about Nikola Jokic’s play over the last week.

He said Jokic sent a text to the team after All-Star Break, and from then, KCP knew. pic.twitter.com/wRU4JVrks4

— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) February 27, 2024

Nikola Jokic sent a text message to the rest of his teammates right after the All-Star game, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. KCP didn’t divulge much about what was in the text but did say this: “It got everybody motivated. We’re looking forward to winning another championship.”

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) February 27, 2024

I don’t want to put much stock into one whole text, but Jokić is not exactly known, at least publicly, for being a vocal leader. But if the best player in the world is sending everyone some sort of resounding message in another championship pursuit, you better believe his Nuggets teammates will take it to heart.