Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is already a three-time MVP, but years ago, he couldn’t even envision himself as one. In fact, when the idea was presented to him by Felipe Eichenberger, the team’s conditioning coach, The Joker got surprisingly triggered.
“He got mad at me,” Eichenberger said, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne. “He got pretty heated. He’s like, ‘That’s not the player I am. I pass more than I score. … I’m not selfish.'”
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Eichenberger’s suggestion occurred during a car ride with Jokic to the airport. He knew he would touch a nerve when talking to the Serbian big man about becoming the league MVP, knowing how team-oriented Jokic is. However, it was a conversation that needed to happen.
Joker faced conditioning criticisms
Jokic’s car ride conversation with Eichenberger happened in February 2019. “Big Honey was in the midst of a breakout season and had just been named the NBA Player of the Week. Moreover, Denver paced the Northwest Division and ultimately secured the second seed.
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It was apparent, however, that playing so many minutes has become an issue. Jokic heard criticism from his own coaches and executives, as well as from the media talking heads. He had to lose that flub in the midsection for him to take the step to superstardom.
As mentioned, Jokic hesitated, even scoffed at the idea. Still, he was an inherent hard worker and he welcomed Eichenberger’s notion after a long second thought.
“I knew he wanted to work,” Eichenberger stated. “He was always willing to work.”
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Felipe re-framed the idea into something more palatable for Nikola. As former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone observed, Jokic was almost embarrassed by the spotlight, so feeding him the thought of becoming an MVP was only counterintuitive. So, Eichenberger told him to “focus on the work,” instead of thinking about becoming the league’s best individual player.
It worked like a charm. Jokic embraced Eichenberger’s plan to transform his body. He started lifting weights after every game, cut out junk food, especially soda, and abstained from snacking. The only exception, Eichenberger said, was orange juice and a taste of his mom’s cooking whenever she visits from Serbia.
From that point on, there was no turning back.
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Joker learned the hard way
While the Nuggets’ big man immediately noticed changes, the fundamental transformation did not happen overnight. He had to navigate a gauntlet to realize he needed to reach another level to lead Denver to the coveted title.
That realization came in a hard-fought, Game 7 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 2019 playoffs. Jokic was cooking, but he had to play nearly 43 minutes a night for the Nuggets to have a chance. It was clear he ran out of gas as he missed seven of his 10 shots in the final period, allowing Portland to run off with a 100-96 victory.
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Nobody blamed Jokic but himself, despite carrying the team on his back to the tune of 27.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in the series.
“He was emotional when he came in (the locker room),” current Nuggets head coach David Adelman observed. “I think he felt like he wore down in the second half, and we all looked at him like, ‘Joker. You carried us through this whole process.’ “
“But then I think he, in his mind, thought, ‘Maybe I can give more. Maybe if I get in even better shape. Maybe if I do this,’ ” Adelman stated.
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Three regular-season MVPs, one ring, and a finals MVP later, Joker’s conditioning was no longer an issue. He played around 40 minutes per contest in the last three postseasons, and it felt like he just kept getting better.
Jokic’s journey shows that even the most naturally gifted players must face hard truths to reach the next level. What began as a tense car ride conversation turned into a disciplined approach that set the stage for sustained success.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.