Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is one of — if not the best — players in the NBA, but he almost called it quits in the midst of his prime.
Former NBA All-Star Demarcus Cousins, who played in Denver with Jokic during the 2021-22 season, appeared on the Straight Game Podcast where he discussed Jokic and his nonchalant demeanor when it comes to basketball. Cousins appeared in 31 games for the Nuggets that season, averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
“If you ever get a chance to just hold a conversation with him, he’ll let you know off rip he really don’t give a f— about this sh—,” Cousins said. “He doesn’t care, at all.”
Cousins also detailed Jokic’s surprising future plans, even going as far as to say he was considering retirement.
“When I was with Denver our lockers were next to each other,” he said. “I don’t remember who at the time had signed an extension, but I’m like ‘man yours is gonna be crazy,’ and he was like ‘you know Cous’ I honestly think I might retire after this contract.’”
Luckily for the Nuggets, Jokic didn’t retire, and he would help the team to an NBA title in the following season. If Jokic truly doesn’t care, his stat lines would say otherwise. This past season, Jokic averaged a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game.
