“This dude is FAT!” Nikola Jokic’s championship-winning teammate DID NOT APPROVE of his body shape

Michael Porter Jr. had some reservations on Joker's talent.

“This dude is FAT!” Nikola Jokic’s championship-winning teammate DID NOT APPROVE of his body shape

L- Nikola Jokic, R- Michael Porter Jr. (Image via user generated content)

There’s an all-old saying “never judge a book by its cover.” It seems as if Michael Porter Jr. did not pay attention to his childhood sermons. He recalled how in the first few practice sessions of the Denver Nuggets, the rising star underestimated his teammate Nikola ‘Joker’ Jokic. Porter Jr. admitted that when he first joined the team, he believed Mason Plumlee was the superior player, questioning why the “fat” Jokić was given the starting position.

“When I first got drafted to Denver, and I saw him (Nikola Jokic) in training camp, I thought Mason Plumlee was better than (Jokic)…..I was like, ‘Why does Joker start over Mason? This dude is fat,” said Porter Jr. in conversation with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks. Incredibly, Porter Jr. found himself leaning towards Plumlee, believing that the seemingly “coasting” Jokić was not deserving of the starting spot.

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Porter Jr. sure realized later and also got to know from his teammates about the abilities of the Joker and how the Joker “could score 50 points in every game” if he wanted to. Nuggets players and coaching staff urged him to be patient and witness Jokić’s greatness during actual games. They assured him that Jokić possessed a unique skill set that extended far beyond appearances. Their words piqued Porter Jr.’s curiosity, and he soon discovered the extraordinary talent that lay hidden beneath Jokić’s unassuming exterior.

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Related: “Bum a** wasted an all-time Nikola Jokic performance” – Jamal Murray gets COOKED by NBA Twitter for poor outing and bricking game-tying shot against Heat in Game 2

The rise of the Joker and Michael Porter Jr.’s Interactions with him

Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr
Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic donning the Nuggets jersey (Images via Getty Images)

Everyone now is aware of the 2 time MVP’s greatness and how talented he is. He led the Nuggets to a ring in the latest season, with this Denver fans may very well be seeing a dynasty forming in front of them. Although their squad is deep because of the likes of Jamal Murray and Porter Jr, everyone would agree that without the Joker, it would have been impossible to be where they are.

“But then the moment I realized how special he was, was every year after that, it was like he was doing even more till he was MVP. And then even the year after he won MVP, it was like he had an even better year.” Porter Jr. recalled.

Michael Porter Jr. played in 20 playoff games last season, where he not only averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists but also had an impressive 42.3% shooting from the field and 35.1% from deep. Porter Jr. has, since his drafting, become an integral player and he sure has learned how to play alongside the generational talent in “Joker” who he once called fat.

Interestingly, many would call Porter’s injuries lucky as he got the chance to be drafted by the Nuggets, where he became an integral part of their ring win. Moreover, Nikola Jokić’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of exceptional. His unconventional playing style has shattered expectations and redefined the role of the modern big man. As Jokić continues to dazzle the basketball world with his incredible skills and Porter keeps on learning, Nuggets will surely look to win another ring this year with a good core at their disposal.

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