Nikola Jokic is one of the most prominent athletes in the NBA and a two-time NBA MVP. But he wasn’t always so spectacularly muscular. Even his own fellow teammate, Michael Porter Jr., questioned whether or not he was competent adequately to be on the initial roster when he straight away entered the league.
“This dude fat,” Michael Porter Jr. recalled saying that in an interview. “I didn’t know if he could play.”
When Jokic initially entered the league, he was unmistakably overweight. At the NBA draft combine in 2014, he weighed 284 pounds, the heaviest of any player picked in that year’s draft. Jokic’s measurements, though, didn’t prevent him from flourishing as a formidable player. As a rookie, he had 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and he instantaneously won the hearts of Denver’s supporters.
“When I first got drafted to Denver and I saw him in training camp, I thought Mason Plumlee was better… I was like, ‘Why does Joker start over Mason? This dude is fat.'”
Michael Porter Jr. on when he realized Nikola Jokic was special
(via @TaylorRooks)pic.twitter.com/5PRr41k0Sx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 11, 2023
However, misgivings concerning Jokic’s corpulence were not unconscionable. Throughout his earliest years, Jokic’s body weight did pose an obstruction at certain moments. On defense, he had a hard time sticking in proximity to defenders and was frequently exhausted by his final stretch of games.
Jokic made an upsurge in his life in 2018. He began exercising more upon appointing a personal instructor. He also altered his dietary regimen by cutting out soda and processed foods. Benefits arrived straightaway. Jokic grew more athletic and shed fat. He excelled as a goal scorer and defense as well.
Jokic secured his first-ever MVP award in 2019. He had since emerged as one of the league’s greatest dominant athletes. He is a triple-double machine and is a master of passing and shooting. Jokic is a legitimate MVP candidate and he is among those to effortlessly win the award again this season.
Nikola Jokic comments about being called “fat”
Throughout his entire career, Nikola Jokic has encountered the appellation “fat” from critics. He has, nevertheless, always absorbed condemnation graciously and even channeled it into inspiration.
Jokic stated, “I don’t care what people say about me”, in an interview with ESPN. “Basketball is not the main thing in my life. It’s something that I’m good at.” Additionally, he has stated that he is not bothered being referred to as “fat” since he is cognizant of his strength and excellent health.
Jokic’s naysayers have frequently cited his physique as a factor in why they contend he is not equally competent as other NBA players. Jokic, however, has repeatedly disclosed them to be erroneous. In addition to being a two-time MVP, he has twice taken the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals.
The Joker became the first player to be honoured with the MVP award unambiguously in NBA history when he prevailed it for the second time in 2022. The Nuggets’ best victory in the Western Conference was also under his direction.
“Don’t bet against the fat boy.” 🗣️
Nikola Jokić spoke about his doubters (via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/WaHFdFKcHj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 13, 2023
Jokic’s doubters may still refer the phrase to him as “fat,” but he consistently showcased that he is among the NBA’s most exquisite athletes regardless of his physique. He has a formidable presence on both sides of the ground, and he contributes a big part to the Nuggets’ reputation as one of the most competitive groups in the league.
Jokic’s demeanor with his accusers is noteworthy. He ignores the criticism and emphasizes solely shooting baskets. Young athletes who might be vulnerable to the same censure look up to him.