Nikola Jokic Has Got only one thing to say to Kenyon Martin Appropriate now:

Back atcha, big guy.

“It implies a good deal, to tell the truth, since (Martin) was some thing specific,” Jokic said Monday afternoon when asked about the praise that Martin, the former Nuggets enforcer from 2004-2011, heaped on the current Denver post celebrity before the Nuggets-Cavaliers game last Saturday night.

K-Mart, who had been honored at the Pepsi Center throughout the Cavaliers game, isn’t you to mince words — or to sugarcoat his opinions. However he stated he’s liked what he noticed of The Joker, particularly since the Nuggets center “competes each night. ”

With Martin at the house, Jokic published his sixth largest triple-double of the season against Cleveland: 19 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in only 28 minutes.

“He had been a very high-energy guy,” Jokic said of Martin, who retired from professional basketball at 2015. “He had been extremely passionate about basketball. He also didn’t even need to lose. And when someone like that states some thing (about) you, then it implies a good deal, naturally. ”

The 7-foot Serbian is not able to pass Martin on the Nuggets’ career scoring and rebounding lists over the weeks ahead. Jokic started the week using 4,285 points and snatched 2,533 rebounds on his three-plus seasons with the franchise; Martin scored 4,553 points and collected 2,583 boards throughout his seven years at Denver.

Martin also stated Jokic was a “prototypical big nowadays ” he should be among at least three Nuggets picked to the Western Conference All-Star squad. Despite being the only center one of the NBA’s top 10 in assists per game (7.7) while contributing also leading the Northwest division leaders in scoring (19.6 per game) and rebounding (10.0 per competition ), Jokic ranked No. 7 among Western Conference frontcourt players at the NBA All-Star Game enthusiast voting (1.128 million votes) at Jan. 17.

Exotic votes, that accounts for 50% of the vote that decides the All-Star starters, also closes Monday night.

“I believe , I don’t even understand ,” Jokic shrugged when asked about Martin’s All-Star forecast. “Yes, I think people ’re all supposed to move. ”

The major lug then paused, grinning wickedly.

“Sparky, too,” Jokic said with a grin, a nod to longtime Nuggets equipment supervisor Sparky Gonzales. Who, it should be noted, is, um, not on the ballot.

Morris excited for Thomas to reunite. Irrespective of if it’s or after, when defender Isaiah Thomas does go back to the spinning, it could translate to fewer moments for unsung backcourt performers like Malik Beasley — who’s averaging 14 points per game this month — and Monte Moore — among the most pleasant surprises at the NBA. However, the latter states he’s amped to the veteran to receive back on the court.

“Nobody’s actually got egos on this team,” Morris said after practice Monday afternoon at Pepsi Center. “That’therefore why it’s always somebody different every night besides Nikola, he does it every night.

“That only shows you & ’re unselfish and I’m awaiting I.T. coming back. It’s going to become big-time for me to view, simply to participate in the journey, it’s definitely be a crazy story, how he arrived back, since he has so many naysayers and items like that around his career. So him coming right back, I’m not tripping about it. I’m excited. ”

Malone: Goals haven’t altered. Even following 31 wins the first 45 games, coach Michael Malone hasn’t stopped slipping back on his season-long targets for the Nuggets, including a Northwest division crown.

“It really hasn’t altered,” the coach said after practice Monday. “I mean, the No. 1 goal is that we have is to find a way to get better each day. And we believe if we do that, then ’ll take care of whatever else.

“And we talk about winning our division. At the moment , we’re 6-0 within our division.

“We talk about becoming a better defensive group — considerably improved from this past year, most especially (with) our 3-point defense. From being last to being a top-5 3-point defensive group. To being improved on the road.

“And the schedule does not get easier — you know, if you get a shot, everyone, have a take a look at our schedule, particularly following the All-Star Break, it’s murderer’s row. ”

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Four of the Nuggets’ first eight tilts coming from the rest are on the road, including a gruesome, three-game road swing through San Antonio (March 4), the Los Angeles Lakers (March 6) and Golden State (March 8). A three-game homestand follows after that, then a brutal six-day, four-game junket at Boston (March 18), at Washington (March 21), at New York (March 22) and at Indiana (March 24).

Jokic enjoys teasing Malone. The final word goes into Jokic, who has reduced his second-half filthy rate this season, getting whistled for one every 11.2 minutes after halftime. That’down more than a full moment from last winter after he had been labeled using one every 10.1 moments, and down two moments out of 2016-17, once the clip was one every 9.3 moments. If a reporter pointed out his new advancement in ticky-tack fouls late in games Monday, the Serbian grinned again and deciphered: “Yeah, sometimes I do that just to (expletive) Coach (Malone off). ”

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