Opinion | 'While he loves basketball, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic often seems to feel imprisoned by his celebrity status in the NBA. Is it just me, but does Joker look emotionally weary from all the Haterade poured on him?'
Nikola Jokic is a big part of the Nuggets’ late-season problems. Crazy, I know. Hear me out. If Jokic runs away from the MVP discussion, why should teammates give it their all for him? Jokic has not played well since the stupid Kendrick Perkins controversy, going into a shell, with poor passing, carelessness with the ball and a general lack of observable interest. It is too bad. The Nuggets have gone stale at the wrong time.
New Broncos coach Sean Payton has already started fixing quarterback Russell Wilson. Let us count the ways. Payton took away Wilson’s private office, threw shade at him after a dinner with Joe Montana, booted his personal quarterback coach from the premises, brought in backup QB Jarrett Stidham and strengthened the offensive line. I think we will see a different Wilson this season.
Long ago, I lived in California and had the privilege of reading Jim Murray in the Los Angeles Times. In my mind, he is on the Mount Rushmore of sportswriters. I’m not sure who else should be there alongside him, but occasionally you wander into his territory, Kiz. The open secret, of course, is that the best sports writing is often not about sports at all, but overcoming obstacles, remembering great moments and the ones who shared them, etc. So thanks for that.
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