Nuggets training camp — Jokic talks with referees

Nuggets training camp — Jokic talks with referees

Nikola Jokic held court after a closed practice, spending about 15 minutes surrounded by three NBA referees as he pointed out spots on the floor, positioned JT Orr at the free-throw line, mimed a euro-step and listened to a discussion about legal defensive positioning. A few assistant coaches passed by laughing as the otherwise empty UC San Diego practice court watched the exchange.

On-court intensity during the scrimmage

The referees were in to officiate Thursday’s mostly closed scrimmage, and Jokic used the informal setting to dig into the finer points of the game with them, carrying the same competitive edge he displayed during play. Coach David Adelman said the players answered the coaching staff’s push from the prior two days by finding an extra gear and treating the scrimmage like a real NBA game for stretches.

Coaching read on team condition

Adelman’s main takeaway after three days of camp is that the roster’s physical readiness is ahead of schedule, a sharp contrast to concerns about conditioning voiced at this point last year. He said he’d hoped the group would return in playing shape, put them through a tough test and came away satisfied with what he saw.

Player updates

Aaron Gordon credited hot yoga with helping him feel better prepared and focused on staying healthy after missing 31 games last season. Jamal Murray reported feeling more refreshed than the previous summer after extra rest. Jokic, as ever, remained the focal point of the team’s outlook.

Scrimmage finish and individual highlights

A team led by Jonas Valanciunas and Jamal Murray beat Jokic’s squad 35–32. With 2.5 seconds left Jokic missed a second free throw on purpose to try to create a tip-out and a spot-up chance, but Valanciunas secured the defensive rebound to clinch the win. Valanciunas also hit a soft baby hook that stood out during the media-access portion; Adelman praised the Valanciunas–Murray connection while Jokic was engaged with the officials.

Clippers borrowing the message

The Clippers’ staff showed they’d taken note of Denver’s style, with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy creating T-shirts referencing lessons from the 2025 playoffs. The shirt lists a multiword acronym emphasizing floor balance, urgency, consistent communication and concentration, and learning from transition breakdowns against Denver. Adelman took the shirts as a compliment and returned the sentiment about mutual respect between coaching staffs.