“I kinda wanted to go home”: Nikola Jokic on his start with the Denver Nuggets
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Nikola Jokic
The 41st pick of the 2015 National Basketball Association draft Nikola Jokic who was trusted by Denver Nuggets has had a hell of a journey throughout his basketball career. Nikola Jokic was doubted by many and he himself even thought that he won’t really make it at the start of his career. Even the National Basketball Association didn’t really find his draft that special to be telecasted and a Taco Bell advertisement was shown instead.
After all this doubts, last season Nikola Jokic became the lowest drafted MVP of the league ever as Nikola’s great vision and playmaking skills led the Denver Nuggets to the 3rd seed in the western conference but lost to the Phoenix Suns in the conference semi-finals as the team missed its primary guard Jamal Murray. Last season Nikola Jokic averaged 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.3 SPG and 0.7 BPG and won the MVP award of the league.
This year Nikola Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to the 5th seed in the western conference with the record of 17 wins and 16 looses. Nikola is again the part of MVP conversation and ladder as with his special influence he is also averaging 25.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.4 SPG and 0.8 BPG. All this was never really imagined by Nikola Jokic himself as he opened up about Life before NBA in a recent interview with CNN.
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Nikola Jokic on life before NBA
Nikola Jokic in all his time during the interview sounded thankful to make it big and talking about his start with the Denver Nuggets he quoted “I used to drink two or three liters of Coca-cola every day and I had my last can on the flight to the United States, The first week in practice was tough. All my team mates were more physical and athletic, they could slam-dunk any way you like and I kind of wanted to go home.”
Nikola’s unfortunate habit of sticking to the junk had him un-athletic during the start and is still somewhere holding him back and it was one of the main reasons which made him feel to go back home as others could easily bully him in the ball game but sticking to the process he has made it to the top. Jokic also highlighted the journey he has been through as he said, “I am now in my seventh NBA season, having warmed the bench in the beginning and then I was given some ‘garbage time’ before I broke into the starting five. It was a process, though I suppose I took the road less traveled.”
Nikola was happy with the decisions he has made all this years as he decided to stick in with the process and didn’t give up. He also thanked the European Giants Barcelona for not entertaining him after a poor performance and shutting down the talks they formerly had. Nikola also showed his respect towards Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant as he said both of them are one of the best in the league and KD is un-guardable while Curry should not be hated. Saying all this about the stars he also added that he doesn’t admires them being better but respects what they are since he always wants to live with the competitive edge the game offers.
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Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)