Nuggets Coach Reveals Big Change for Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets have officially acquired center Jonas Valanciunas in a trade that sent Dario Saric to another team. This move is seen as beneficial for the Nuggets, allowing them to move on from Saric's contract after he was deemed unplayable last season, while finally providing star center Nikola Jokic with a quality backup.

Jokic averaged a career-high nearly 37 minutes per game last season, significantly higher than his previous seasons where he never averaged above 35 minutes. This increased workload appeared to impact his performance negatively, particularly in the playoffs during the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where his efficiency dropped.

Nuggets head coach David Adelman, speaking at the NBA Summer League, emphasized the importance of managing Jokic's minutes in the upcoming season. Adelman stated, "We know that one of the most important things we have to do next season is take care of him, and make sure that he is the best version of himself if we’re lucky enough to get to that playoff spot," acknowledging the concern and committing to address it properly.

Despite Jokic's incredible individual season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game while shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range, he did not win the MVP award. This was largely due to the outstanding season by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, although Jokic had a strong case for what would have been his fourth MVP in five years.