NEW ORLEANS — Nikola Jokic makes little secret about what side of the basketball he prefers.
“Offense will always beat defense,” Jokic said back in January, a couple weeks before he arrived in New Orleans during all-star weekend to showcase a skill set with more varied components than a bowl of gumbo.
Jokic will never be known for his defensive prowess the way he is for his passing and playmaking ability, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone pointed to several ways the 22-year-old big man can make improvements as a defender.
“Getting stronger is one,” Malone said before Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans.