Looking at Nikola Jokic‘s sheer dominance over the past five or six years, it seems the Denver Nuggets superstar had already figured things out. He collected three MVP awards during that stretch, five First team All-NBA selections, and was well on his way to a sixth if he plays 65 games this season.
However, as phenomenal as the Joker has been, he feels he still has things to improve on. For Jokic, getting more comfortable with his body and the finer details of team dynamics is always a work in progress.
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Conditioning and leadership
Drafted 41st overall in 2014 during a Taco Bell commercial, Jokic quickly became the cornerstone of a Nuggets franchise that missed the playoffs for five straight seasons. At first, giving Denver hope as a consistent triple-double threat was enough, but things later became serious.
With Jokic running the show, the Nuggets turned the corner and slipped into the playoffs in 2019. They outlasted the San Antonio Spurs in seven games and then went the distance with the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round before bowing out.
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Once again, Joker was phenomenal in the series. He averaged over 27 points, nearly 14 rebounds, and eight assists, but he found himself gassed at the end of games. By the time he returned in the 2019-2020 offseason, he was a different guy. He lost 20 to 30 pounds and looked much leaner, thereby improving his conditioning.
Six years later, Jokic remained proud of the changes he made while still striving to improve his health.
“I take care of my body and even though I have little injuries, I play through it and I’m available for the team,” the three-time MVP said in an exclusive interview with the Nuggets’ YouTube channel. “I think that’s something that, I really am not going to say I’m proud of it, but something that is really important in this business or sport.”
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True enough, even though Nikola suffered a hyperextended knee that forced him to miss 16 games, he is on pace to appear in 66 games. That is one more than the 65-game threshold the Association set for players to qualify for awards.
And more than the physical aspect of the game, Jokic said he is working on his leadership. He believes he had to be a better example, while also being someone who calls out others when need be. Finding that balance is delicate, but Jokic is up to the task.
“I think I’m trying to be a better teammate, trying to be a better leader. I try not to talk to the referees like I said many times. Mentally, not losing your energy on some stuff that you cannot control,” the Serbian big man stated.
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“I think a leader, sometimes you need to be the bad guy. I think that’s something that I cannot be when I start. Next step is sometimes you need to be a bad guy. I think that is my next step,” he added.
Becoming a more vocal leader
By becoming a bad guy, Nikola meant he had to be upfront with his teammates, no matter how hard the conversation goes. As he admitted, he had trouble with that aspect of leadership at first, but he has recently become a more vocal leader for Denver.
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For instance, Jokic called out his teammates last season after a rough stretch in December. In the playoffs, Joker was unhappy with Michael Porter Jr.’s level of engagement, leading to MPJ’s benching in the fourth quarter in favor of Russell Westbrook.
It always came with the territory if you’re the best player on a contender like Jokic is. Whether he likes it or not, he has to hold teammates accountable, even if that job is out of his comfort zone.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.