Nikola Jokic start to the 2024-24 NBA season has been nothing short of mind-boggling. The Denver Nuggets’ center is on a historic pace, averaging a triple-double and dominating the league in a way that hasn’t been seen in decades, if not ever.
He’s averaging an astounding 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game, while shooting 56.3% from the field, 56.4% from three, and 84.3% from the line. His ability to score from anywhere on the court, facilitate for his teammates, and control the glass has made him an unstoppable force.
However, the downside of it all is that, in a very top-heavy Denver Nuggets team, Jokic is also averaging 38 minutes per game. Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone recently addressed a question about whether he had apologized to Nikola Jokic for the heavy minutes he’s been logging on the court.
The inquiry came amidst concerns about Jokic’s workload and the potential impact on his performance and health.
With a smile, Malone responded,
“Nah man…. you see his pay check? I mean come on man…
He understands. He’s a warrior. But I will say this: I don’t know how sustainable it is to play Nikola 38 to 40 minutes every night. Let’s be honest; we”re 10 games in, we’re 7-1 in the last eight, that is great, but we’ve also got to find ways to continue to find some other options off of our bench.”
Michael Malone Hilariously Responds To Apology Inquiry For Nikola Jokic’s Heavy Minutes pic.twitter.com/vOEIPbC41d
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) November 15, 2024
