"The Game is So Slow... They Just Go in Circles, in Circles..." Jokic Shares His Thoughts on College Basketball: "It's Really Too Much!"

Pulse Sports Team 07:33 - 07 April 2026

Nikola Jokic was once again in the spotlight after a dramatic Denver Nuggets game, this time against Portland, where he notched another triple-double.

The Serbian center addressed his crucial missed shot during the press conference, alongside offering his perspective on the unique rules of American college basketball.

It's worth remembering that Nikola Jokic had a chance to secure a victory for his team before overtime but missed a shot he typically makes with ease.

Everything was perfect until the very end, until the execution. I wanted to run down the clock a bit more, maybe I overthought it, and in the end, I missed. It was one of the easier shots, something I was sure I could make. Murray gave me a great assist, I was completely open, but I wanted to let time expire so they wouldn't have a chance to respond.

"They just go in circles, in circles..."

When asked about the increasing number of European players in the NCAA, Jokic shared his thoughts on the style of play prevalent there.

I don't understand why the rules are different. The game is so slow... they just go in circles, and in circles. I really don't get the 30-second shot clock. It's too much!

He also commented on Michael Malone's anticipated move to college basketball.

I'm happy for him. It's a bit different... has he ever coached in college? (He was an assistant). I'm happy for the coach and wish him all the best. It will be different because he's been in the NBA for 12-15 years, but he certainly possesses the composure and knowledge to pull it off. I think he'll do a great job because he can really coach those guys and will have the time to teach them how to play the right way.

Despite injury woes, Denver has already surpassed last season's regular-season win total (51 compared to 50).

- This year has been full of ups and downs, with injuries and frequent roster changes... but we still managed to stay at the top. That speaks volumes about the group of guys we have. We've shown we can handle any challenge - Jokic concluded.

Video: Denver Dominates Houston: Jokic Records Another Triple-Double, Murray Delivers Spectacular Performance!