Nikola Jokic’s Uncertain Status and Fascinating Career Insights

Nikola Jokic, the star center of the Denver Nuggets, is currently listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to personal reasons. This marks the third consecutive game Jokic might miss, following his absence from the previous two games for the same reason.

In Jokic’s absence, Dario Saric has stepped into the starting lineup, contributing significantly with 19 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals over the past two games, although both games resulted in losses for the Nuggets.

Beyond his current status, recent discussions have highlighted intriguing aspects of Jokic’s career. A new book by former Denver Post reporter Mike Singer, titled ‘Why So Serious? The untold story of NBA champion Nikola Jokic,’ reveals that Jokic’s early basketball years were marked by unconventional habits. Jokic often skipped practices and faked injuries to avoid conditioning, preferring to spend time with horses. His first coach kept detailed logs showing Jokic’s sporadic practice attendance, particularly around the age of 12 or 13.

Singer’s book also details how Jokic’s family and advisors had to incentivize him to return to basketball by linking it to his passion for horses. This unique approach ultimately helped Jokic commit to his basketball career.

In other news, there have been rumors about a potential blockbuster trade that could have united Jokic with his close friend and fellow NBA superstar Luka Doncic. According to Mike Singer, the Denver Nuggets once attempted to trade up to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to select Doncic, but the deal never materialized. This hypothetical trade would have significantly altered the trajectory of both the Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks.