Leaner version of Jokic ready to carry load for Nuggets

pictures on social media over break revealed a leaner, more svelte-looking version of Nikola Jokic.

Naturally, inquiring minds wanted to kw: How much weight did Denver Nuggets star actually drop while home in Serbia?

“I’m t supposed to tell you my pounds and my weight,” joked 7-foot center who was a late arrival in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for NBA's relaunch after testing positive for coronavirus. “It’s a team policy. I like that.”

Pound for pound, whatever that may currently be, he’s one of top centers in league. Maybe even point guards, for that matter.

He doesn’t play like your typical big man. His vision and passing make him that much more difficult to defend, wher he’s at 284 pounds (his weight before hiatus) or his new sleeker weight. w that he's arrived at Walt Disney World, he’s er to carry load as Nuggets return to court in possession of . 3 seed in Western Conference.

“He was playing at an All-NBA, first-team level prior to league being suspended,” coach Michael Malone said. "He just continued that over break. He looks great.

“I expect him to play way he was playing prior to league being suspended and come out and play at a very, very high level. He’s best center in NBA. Why wouldn’t he?”

Time and again, player nicknamed “Joker” has come up clutch for Nuggets this season — hitting four game-winners in addition to recording 12 triple-doubles.

And while his unique brand of hoops isn't new to those around league, rest of world caught a big glimpse of it during 2018-19 playoffs. Jokic averd 25.1 points, 8.4 assists and 13 rebounds as Nuggets beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games before falling to Portland in seven.

“Maybe I’m going to surprise everybody. Maybe I’m t going to be good. So we will see,” Jokic said. “I’m just happy to be here, to finally come to Orlando to be with team.”

Jokic said he was surprised his COVID-19 test came back positive in late June. result was same day that ar top Serbian athlete — vak Djokovic, world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player — revealed that he and his wife had tested positive for virus. Djokovic and Jokic were toger at an event earlier in June, though it can't be concluded it played in a role in positive test of eir athlete.

“It was kind of weird because I was feeling good. I was feeling rmal,” Jokic said . “y said that I’m positive, so it was kind of surprising. n I called everybody and y said that’s fine, your health is most important thing, and y’re right.”

DEPTH UPDATE

Malone has been working with a short-handed group while in Florida. team recently had Torrey Craig and Gary Harris arrive at bubble and will soon have back Michael Porter Jr.

absences has given Malone a chance to get creative with his lineups. He may use 7-foot-2 rookie Bol Bol, who’s available after t playing in an NBA game this season.

WHERE WE WERE

After a win over Detroit on Feb. 25, Nuggets were 40-18 — matching ir best 58-game start in ir NBA history. But y hit a skid and went 3-4, including a loss in Dallas on March 11 that was NBA's final game before league was shut down.

“When season ended, we were t really good,” Jokic said. “It's basically a new season. We need to start over.”

TEAM CHEMISTRY

Jamal Murray and Nuggets are bonding over more than just basketball. y’re hitting driving range , swimming pool and even p laying some tag . Murray also hosted a recent team breakfast. y’re banking on ir chemistry to help m make a run.

SOCIAL ISSUES

team discussed legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis prior to practice over weekend. Malone also sent along a link to Lewis documentary “Good Trouble.”

“We realized we lost a great freedom fighter and all he accomplished,” Malone said. “We wanted to talk and get to kw him a little more.”

BOL GAME

7-2 Bol — with a 7-7 wingspan — certainly made quite a splash by scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in Denver’s first scrimm game against Washington.

A second-round pick out of Oregon (by Miami with his rights sent to Denver on draft night), Bol was limited to a handful of games this season in G League as he dealt with a left foot ailment. He’s son of Manute Bol, former NBA center.

Asked if his performance against Wizards was start of proving everyone wrong after falling in draft, Bol responded: “I hope so.”

Im credits: AP