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As the NBA trade deadline looms, many players will be thinking about whether or not they will still be on the same team tomorrow. According to Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic, there is no place for such speculation in his locker room.
Asked Nikola Jokic whether he thought any of his teammates were distracted with the trade deadline.
“I don’t know. If they are, they are not professionals. First you represent yourself, then you represent your team.”
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 25, 2021
The comments came fresh off the heels of the Nuggets drubbing at the hands of the Raptors, losing 135-111. Some of the players seemed to be focused on the deadline in lieu of the game at hand.
Denver head coach Mike Malone got involved in the discourse about trade speculation and addressed players losing focus.
Malone: “They got guys in their locker room that have trade deadline anxiety as well. Guess what? They went out there and balled tonight.”
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 25, 2021
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The comments from the coach and his star big man drew a stark juxtaposition to comments made by Nuggets forward Paul Millsap. The veteran big man offered a more heartfelt perspective to the struggles of deadline stress.
“We're human beings, man. We're humans.”
The Nuggets are currently sitting in the 5th seed in the West, just two games behind defending champion LA Lakers. In order to make up the deficit and gain a top-four seed, the Nugs might be due for a trade shakeup. A move to bring in a reliable third option at the expense of a few young prospects and draft picks could be on the cards for the Joker’s team.
However, focusing on that move is unacceptable for Jokic, who closed his statement with clear intent.
“… It’s something that cannot happen. I don’t see that. I mean, for me, it’s unprofessional.”
