Paul Millsap has embarked on this, his third different stint of his career, in a much different way than he did his previous two. The 34-year-old Denver Nuggets power forward has always been a leader, but his instinct now calls for doing it by means of showing the way, rather than putting up beefy numbers to back up his claim.

Millsap has taken to mentor a young Jamal Murray along with a wave of young players who make up this Nuggets roster — something he has taken abreast and cherished throughout his two-year stint in the Mile High City:

“That’s what makes it more special,” Millsap told Mike Singer of The Denver Post. “I’m a leader, but not the leader with the ball in my hands like I was in Atlanta. It’s moreso mentally and trying to guide and help these younger guys. For me, that’s what it’s all about. Just giving back to the younger guys and trying to help them lead the way.”

The 6-foot-8 big man is no longer posting 18-7-3 numbers like he did with the Atlanta Hawks, but instead he has taken to teaching the ways of a professional, and who better than a second-round pick who once had to carve out his own spot in a Utah Jazz lineup while succeeding none other than the great Karl Malone:

“I think the best thing about Paul Millsap, he’s true to himself, never tries to be something he’s not,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “He’s not a rah-rah guy. He’s not a guy that’s going to be screaming and yelling. His calm nature, his calm demeanor has an effect on that group. … He’s the calm for our team.”

Millsap has dialed the clock back, sporting averages of 19.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in this series against the Portland Trail Blazers, helping Denver to a 3-2 lead, needing one more win to reach the much-awaited Western Conference Finals.