One of the biggest early takeaways from EuroBasket is that Nikola Jokic looks like a different person. He has added strength and muscle, and somehow looks even bigger and more daunting on the court. But it appears to be functional size, as he has always gotten the jokes about being fat and pudgy, whereas now he looks shredded.
This transformation of sorts comes at the perfect time, as the Nuggets have added depth and versatility this offseason. Jokic should be able to lean into playing bully-ball and outmuscling his opponents more than ever.
Hopefully, the team can better manage his minutes and keep him fresh throughout games and over the course of the season. And now Jokic can use his new strength and channel even more energy into his shifts every time he’s on the court.
Is it possible for Jokic to get even better?
Sometimes we see players undergo offseason changes like this, and it can actually be a negative. Players will add too much muscle and lose some of their speed and shiftiness, or it could even mess with their shot or other aspects of their game.
But with Jokic, it doesn’t feel like a concern at all. If anything, getting in better shape could unlock an even higher level. He has generally always been the biggest and best player on the court, even while being at a disadvantage athletically.
If he can continue playing the same way he always has, while adding size, strength, speed, and stamina, the rest of the NBA is going to be in serious trouble.
Durability the only thing that can derail Nuggets
With the added depth, the Nuggets should be able to give everyone more than enough rest and can afford to be extra cautious and patient with any potential injury or ailment. That hasn’t been an option for years with the team’s limited bench.
But this year, with the reinforcements, on paper, the only thing that can stop the Nuggets is injuries. If Denver can manage their key players and veterans, to ensure they are in as good of shape as possible, they should be close to unbeatable.