Nikola Jokic has once again shown everyone why his offseason routine is nothing like anyone else’s in the NBA.
While a large part of the league spends July training in private gyms or making promo appearances, the Denver Nuggets superstar returned home to Serbia for one of his annual traditions: rafting with friends. But this year, it wasn’t just the trip that caught the fans’ attention. It was Jokic himself.
New photos from the outing went viral across social media, with fans pointing out that the three-time MVP looked leaner than in previous summers. The Serbian center looked slimmer, smiling alongside friends during the rafting excursion, which sparked excitement among Nuggets fans.
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Jokic has never fit the mold of a traditional NBA superstar. Throughout his career, there have been plenty of questions about his conditioning, despite his MVP-caliber play. At 6-foot-11 and well over 280 pounds, Jokic has relied on elite skill, basketball IQ, and incredible endurance rather than on his physique.
Yet every offseason, he quietly works on his body. But his latest transformation suggests he’s once again preparing for another long season.
The timing remains interesting.
The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the franchise has had a quiet offseason. While the Nuggets have added Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones, they have lost veterans, leaving many wondering whether this team is enough to compete in the West.
The Nuggets were reported to have put everyone except Jokic up for grabs, but they have hardly made a move that moves the needle in their favor. Even if Nikola Jokic has said that he wants to spend his entire career with the Nuggets, there are some conflicting reports putting Jokic’s future in doubt.
But Jokic doesn’t appear distracted by any of the noise. Instead, he’s spending his summer just as he always has, back in Serbia with family and friends.
The rafting trip has become something of an annual tradition for the Serbian superstar. Every offseason, Jokic heads home and divides his time between relaxing, horse racing, and outdoor activities before starting preparations for the upcoming season.
Despite his laid-back personality, nobody should mistake it for a lack of competitive spirit.
Last season, Jokic once again proved why he’s the best player in the world. He averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists while shooting 56.9% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range. He finished second in the MVP voting and earned his sixth All-NBA First Team selection.
But there is always room for improvement.
Last season, Jokic suffered a rare injury when he hyperextended his left knee, which ruled him out for four weeks. That injury might have cost him the MVP award, as he was leading the race until that point. This slimmer look might be a caution against putting strain on that knee in the future.
But the Nuggets’ biggest challenge is not Jokic’s conditioning. The front office still faces massive pressure to build a competitive roster around him. After another early playoff exit, the Western Conference has only gotten tougher, and the Nuggets appear to be slipping from the top.
The good news for the Nuggets is that their reigning superstar already appears to be taking next season seriously.
And if the slimmer version of Jokic is any indicator, the Nuggets have every reason to believe that another MVP-caliber season is on the way.
