RealGM

Thoughts on the Joker from former teammate and fellow center JaVale McGee.

McGee was recently on the All The Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and he shared some words on Jokic.

https://www.si.com/nba/nuggets/news/nba-champion-makes-incredible-statement-about-nikola-jokic

When McGee was on the Denver Nuggets in 2021, he witnessed firsthand just how much work put into Nikola Jokic's MVP season. In that season, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. After every game, McGee saw Jokic do one thing that no one expected - lift weights.

"After those games, he'll get 30 and 15, and he'll go lift after," McGee said. "He lifts after every game, heavy too. He deserves all the glory he's getting for sure."

For some reason, this reminded me of Nikola Peković.

Pekovic was a 6' 11," 305-pound behemoth (also with some Serbian roots) who was mega-strong. Not the most athletic guy, like Jokic, but defenders just bounced off of him like gnats.

Jokic, 6' 11" and maybe 280, is likely not as strong as Pekovic and he's not as big as him, but the principle is the same: massive guy who lifts for strength (lift heavy) just overpowers smaller players like Godzilla running wild.

I knew Jokic took care of his body now, but I didn't know he lifted after every game and lifted heavy, to boot.

Pekovic was the only guy in Europe who somewhat could guard Sofoklis in the post without a double team. Surely a beast, I dont think Nikola Jokic is comparable, tho he is strong.

UcanUwill wrote:Pekovic was the only guy in Europe who somewhat could guard Sofoklis in the post without a double team. Surely a beast, I dont think Nikola Jokic is comparable, tho he is strong.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis

6' 10" and 380 pounds. Damn!

I had never heard of him.

Pekovic vs Sofoklis

HotRocks34 wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:Pekovic was the only guy in Europe who somewhat could guard Sofoklis in the post without a double team. Surely a beast, I dont think Nikola Jokic is comparable, tho he is strong.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis

6' 10" and 380 pounds. Damn!

I had never heard of him.

Really? I think even among NBA and especially RealGM crowd, he is pretty known. Guy killed Dwight Howard in 2006 World Cup semis, mostly in Papaloukas pick and roll tho, Dwight was still a young dummy not knowing what to do. But he was THICK, absolutely unguardable in the post.

Some absolute beasts there. I liked Pekovic.

Guys should check out 6'1 guard Patrick Miller (currently playing in Australia). I was a few rows back from courtside at a recent game and he looked ripped as hell in person.

Wow, Miller is jacked!

UcanUwill -- I probably knew about Sofo at one time and forgot about him. Good reminder!

Phreak50 wrote:Some absolute beasts there. I liked Pekovic.

Guys should check out 6'1 guard Patrick Miller (currently playing in Australia). I was a few rows back from courtside at a recent game and he looked ripped as hell in person.

Oh damn, that actually looks like it could effect his shooting mechanics.

Prime Joey Graham comes to mind. He looked like he lifted before the games, during the games and after the games.

You don't neeed to be chiseled to be strong. The chiseling is mostly for aesthetics or to make weight for a competition.
I've no doubt Jokic is strong as hell.

I remember Pekovic absolutely bullying a young DMC.

Phreak50 wrote:Some absolute beasts there. I liked Pekovic.

Guys should check out 6'1 guard Patrick Miller (currently playing in Australia). I was a few rows back from courtside at a recent game and he looked ripped as hell in person.

NBL love

NBA guards often have tiny arms as wingspan makes armsizes look odd, this dude has long and massive arms


I love Pekovic as a player, Tiny arms but gave a good defensive effort, love the stories like LaVine wanting 14, met Pekovic who was just boxing at the time and thought "Nope" Drummonnd/Dwight Deandre Jordan saying he's the strongest player they ever played against. He had a reported 160kg bench and some Stupid Squat numbers aswell

Just his defensive limitations and injuries really buried what he could be

sca wrote:

Prime Joey Graham comes to mind. He looked like he lifted before the games, during the games and after the games.

Joey's Brother Sephan is actually one of the Nuggets developmental coaches. Both were stacked.

HotRocks34 wrote:Thoughts on the Joker from former teammate and fellow center JaVale McGee.

McGee was recently on the All The Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and he shared some words on Jokic.

https://www.si.com/nba/nuggets/news/nba-champion-makes-incredible-statement-about-nikola-jokic

When McGee was on the Denver Nuggets in 2021, he witnessed firsthand just how much work put into Nikola Jokic's MVP season. In that season, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. After every game, McGee saw Jokic do one thing that no one expected - lift weights.

"After those games, he'll get 30 and 15, and he'll go lift after," McGee said. "He lifts after every game, heavy too. He deserves all the glory he's getting for sure."

For some reason, this reminded me of Nikola Peković.

Pekovic was a 6' 11," 305-pound behemoth (also with some Serbian roots) who was mega-strong. Not the most athletic guy, like Jokic, but defenders just bounced off of him like gnats.

Jokic, 6' 11" and maybe 280, is likely not as strong as Pekovic and he's not as big as him, but the principle is the same: massive guy who lifts for strength (lift heavy) just overpowers smaller players like Godzilla running wild.

I knew Jokic took care of his body now, but I didn't know he lifted after every game and lifted heavy, to boot.

Sat courtside at a game Pekovic played in about 10 years ago. That photo doesn’t do him justice. The same way people who aren’t around basketball get shocked when they see a 7footer in person, Pek was probably the only player that I’ve just gawked at.

I would say you could iron a bedsheet on his upper back, but the power cord isn’t long enough.

HotRocks34 wrote:
I knew Jokic took care of his body now, but I didn't know he lifted after every game and lifted heavy, to boot.

Yea, he's been doing that for years now (2021 article):

About three years ago, at the start of Jokic’s All-Star run, he and Eichenberger adopted a practice of lifting after games.

Eichenberger explained that as Jokic’s role within the team grew, he needed to account for the increased workload. It didn’t matter the exertion over the prior four quarters — or in one notable playoff game, four overtimes — they would lift.

“It’s not like you’re a point guard or a fifth guy,” Eichenberger said. “You’re gonna be fighting underneath the basket every single day, you need this. And the only way to do this … is if we work out after the game, we can load you more and you can get a lot more done than just lifting the day after.

https://www.denverpost.com/2021/03/06/nikola-jokic-nuggets-trainer-felipe-eichenberger-relationship/

HotRocks34 wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:Pekovic was the only guy in Europe who somewhat could guard Sofoklis in the post without a double team. Surely a beast, I dont think Nikola Jokic is comparable, tho he is strong.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis

6' 10" and 380 pounds. Damn!

I had never heard of him.

he's more like 6-6.
Maybe.

I never understood what's the point of lifting in the middle of the night, I mean how long will it take afterwards for your body to relax so you can get some sleep. Just do it when you wake up, it's not like the weights are going anywhere.

But ok I get the point, he works hard. We knew that.

Ryoga Hibiki wrote:

HotRocks34 wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:Pekovic was the only guy in Europe who somewhat could guard Sofoklis in the post without a double team. Surely a beast, I dont think Nikola Jokic is comparable, tho he is strong.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis

6' 10" and 380 pounds. Damn!

I had never heard of him.

he's more like 6-6.
Maybe.

Yeah, I'm 6'5" and he seemed just a touch taller than me when I shook his hand (more like he crushed mine LOL)
Really gentle personality though, heart of gold and soft spoken. Had to go through some **** with racism in various places and it left a mark on him, people don't understand how hurtful this crap can be. But everyone who took a minute to know him likes him to this day.

Stupid morons from Red Star thought this would be a great idea to welcome a new player (starts at 2:40):




The most embarrassing club on the planet.

Sgt Major wrote:Stupid morons from Red Star thought this would be a great idea to welcome a new player (starts at 2:40):

Watch on YouTube

The most embarrassing club on the planet.

oh come on, that was cute. A bit cringe but cute