Nikola Jokic’s status in Denver is already a major storyline, but the three-time MVP just added a different layer to it: he’s worn down by the constant attention that comes with being one of the NBA’s biggest names.
The Nuggets entered the offseason under financial pressure, which made roster-building tougher than it has been for other teams around the league. Denver still managed to get its group to where it needed to be, but the bigger conversation has centered on Jokic, who is in a contract year. Some around the league believe the Nuggets have essentially sacrificed part of their future, especially with restricted free agency hanging over one of their top upside bets.
“Despite all of the accolades he's already piled up, Jokić is smack-dab in the middle of his prime. The 31-year-old has a mostly ground-bound game that should age relatively well. And his team basically just punted on the restricted free agency of its biggest and perhaps best upside bet,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wrote.
Jokic is believed to want to stay in Denver, but ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said that until a deal is actually signed, rival teams will keep watching and waiting.
“[Nikola Jokic] can profess his loyalty to the [Denver] Nuggets, there's still going to be teams that are positioning themselves and monitoring that. ... It's the same thing with Luka. He's done nothing but express optimism and excitement ... but it's not that long-term of an extension,” MacMahon said.
What may bother fans most is how blunt Jokic was about the fame that follows him everywhere. He said he’s increasingly irritated by being approached in public and admitted he’s gotten less welcoming about photos.
“I'm getting more and more bothered by popularity. This is going to sound corny, but, I'm getting ruder to people who approach me.
Honestly, it's tiring…Some people around me know, I don't take pictures because it's my time. I'll sound rude again, but what can I do?
If people can't understand me, I understand everything, but it's been 11-12 years and enough is enough,” Jokic said.
That kind of honesty won’t sit well with everyone, but it also fits the reality of life as a star athlete. Jokic has spent more than a decade dealing with recognition every time he steps out, and he made it clear he’s reached the point where he wants his own time protected.
For him, that seems to mean dinner, family time, or any other ordinary moment should stay ordinary. And after 11-12 years of that spotlight, Jokic made it plain: he’s had enough.
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