Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“He was hurt” – Nikola Jokic reveals how good friend Luka Doncic felt about his trade

The former MVP shared his opinions about the trade and labelled it as a win-win trade for both the team at his All-Star conference.

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets center, Nikola Jokic is having one of the best seasons in basketball history. Pre-All-Star break, Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists and was selected for his seventh All-Star appearance. The center will play for, “Chuck’s Global Stars” alongside fellow MVP contender, Shai Gilgeous Alexander.

In his NBA All-Star pre-game press conference, Jokic referred Luka as a, “Generational player” and a “Generational Talent”. The former MVP also shared his opinions about the blockbuster trade that saw Doncic moving to Los Angeles Lakers.

“I think both teams win. You know, I think—maybe in my opinion, of course—maybe, you know, I think Luka is a generational player, generational talent. Luka—I’m not saying that he’s not. I’m just saying, I think Luka is somebody that—we see someone like him before—who is affecting the game in so many levels, so many possessions. It’s just, he was building something there, you know. I think he was hurt.”

Asked Nikola Jokic about his good friend Luka Doncic being traded to the Lakers:

“He was building something there. He was hurt.”

Is it weird not having Luka at All-Star festivities?

“It’s weird because we always have a good night before the game.” pic.twitter.com/e2RMjljcuU
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) February 15, 2025

Nikola Jokic also talked about the impact of the trade on the NBA players and hinted that anyone can be on the trade block after this Luka Doncic – Anthony Davis trade.

“I think it’s good because then people will maybe—and players gonna take more serious. I think, as a trade, it’s not such a big thing, you know. But if you traded someone like that, I think it kind of becomes a little bit big thing. And maybe players become a little bit serious about it.”

The Nuggets center termed it as “Weird” on not having Luka Doncic for the All-Star game. The pair have played the last five All-Star games on the same team from 2020-2024 and have been LeBron’s favorite picks in the All-Star team selection.

”It’s weird because we always have a good night before the game.” Nikola Jokic on missing Luka Doncic at the All-Star game.

MVP race heats up: Nikola Jokic versus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The MVP race has been heating up as both Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been exchanging the top-spot at the official MVP ladder by NBA.com. Nikola Jokic has been scoring triple-doubles for fun and breaking multiple records on his way another MVP. However, Shai has been holding his own down the other end and has recorded multiple 50-point games while being the number one seed in the west.

Also Read:

The MVP ladder revealed by NBA.com before the All-Star break has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the leading candidate for the 2025 MVP award. The race will go down till the end as both superstars battle for the 2025 MVP.

Luka Docic

NBA All-Star

NBA All-Star 2025

Nikola Jokic

Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

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Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.