Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone revealed his preseason plan for star big man Nikola Jokic on Tuesday.
Jokic will play in two games, possibly three, but not all four. The All-Star had a long summer with Team Serbia, so Malone and the Nuggets want to monitor Jokic's health during training camp and preseason action.
The Nuggets are looking to build off last season. Denver made it to the second round of the playoffs. For the team to go farther in the postseason this year, Nikola Jokic will have to take his game to another level.
Last season, Jokic put up 20.1 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 51.1 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line. The 24-year-old recorded 56 double-doubles and 12 triple-doubles.
How good of a passer is Jokic? Well, the Nuggets center averaged 7.3 assists per game last season. That was good for ninth in the entire NBA. The Nuggets star averaged more assists than D’Angelo Russell, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Mike Conley, Ricky Rubio and Kemba Walker, players who all play the point guard position.
The Nuggets have a really bright future with Jokic leading the way. Denver’s core is headlined by Jokic, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Monte Morris, Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr., who will make his NBA debut this season after missing his rookie year recovering from back surgery.