Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic doesn't look to change much about his game with a new All-Star format in place
The NBA All-Star Game has adopted a different format for 2026, with a Team World and two teams comprised of Team USA All-Stars. The event has simply lacked competitiveness over the last couple of years, so it was a move made to make the game more interesting for fans watching.
One of the main stars for Team World is Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets superstar, who is playing at an MVP-level this season, but might miss out due to the 65-game threshold. He's expected to play just a few minutes in the All-Star game, as he recovers from an injury, but spoke on the competition fans are looking forward to.
Jokic Addresses All-Star Game Competitiveness
"I'm gonna play how I play every year. I'm not sure that it's gonna ring another fire to me. Because I play every game like the same. To me, [no]," Jokic said.
Jokic's play is something that can be described as effortless at times, especially since he isn't a player who relies heavily on athleticism to dominate. But this season, he's averaging 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists, putting up numbers comparable to what he did last year in one of the best MVP runner-up seasons ever.
The joke around Jokic is often that he cares more about his horses than his play on the court, but that's hard to argue when you see what he's able to do on the court. Given that winning the All-Star game doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things, it makes sense why Jokic might not be as inclined to compete at the highest level.
How'd Jokic Do In The All-Star Game
As mentioned earlier, Jokic didn't do much, appearing in just five minutes, missing his one shot attempt, and grabbing two rebounds. That all came in the Team World's first game, as he didn't appear in the second game against Team Stripes.
However, it appears the focus remains on the Nuggets in the long-term and competing for an NBA Championship this season. With Denver battling injuries all season long, there's no need to put their best player at risk of getting injured any longer this season as they look to welcome back Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.
Nuggets fans will now have to wait till February 19th to see Jokic again, but he'll be playing in the same arena, as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome at 10:30 p.m. EST.
With Kawhi Leonard looking like one of the best players in the world right now, Jokic will need to bring his A-game.