CLEVELAND – Nikola Jokic sat down at his All-Star Game podium, but within minutes there was a Slovenian distraction.
Luka Doncic, seated to the right of Jokic, had stopped his news conference and was waving to Jokic from his seat. After acknowledging his friend and turning back to the media standing in front of him, Jokic whipped a squishy, palm-sized basketball at Doncic’s ribs. Like all of Jokic’s passes, this one connected, too.
Asked about his relationship with Doncic, Jokic, who was celebrating his 27th birthday on Saturday, deadpanned the dynamics of their friendship.
“I hate him,” he quipped.