Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Photo: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone talked about the current shape and playing condition of Nikola Jokic.

“Nikola… He’s been working really hard before and after practice. I think he’s getting in great shape and he looked… fast out there. Think about that. Five years now, I’ve never said ‘Nikola’ and ‘fast’ in the same sentence.

Nikola was struggling and he wanted to find anything he could do. ‘Work on my game, work on my craft, work on my body, get stronger, get in better shape.’

He’s been putting a lot of time in and when I look at him, it looks like he’s lost a lot of weight. He’s got more energy out there,” Malone told reporters after Denver’s victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jokic was tremendous in the game and posted his fourth triple-double this season and 32nd of his career.