“You need to be bad, then you need to be good. Then when you’re good, you need to fail. Then when you fail, you’re going to figure it out.” These Nikola Jokic words prove why he is unstoppable: physically and mentally. He’s gone in every way one can be on a basketball court. But how long can the human body act like a machine? And Michael Malone aligns with us in this. He is practically begging his star to take a break, as the Denver Nuggets’ superstar pushes through some nagging injuries. But did Jokic take the General’s command?

Oh, that did not go well. Malone reached out after a rough shooting night, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, Jokic should sit a game out to recover. Jokic’s response? “Hell no.”

That’s Jokic in a nutshell. No load management. No taking it easy. And with only 18 games left in the regular season, the 2023 Finals MVP is making one thing very clear—he’s not going anywhere. “You know, I hit him up yesterday after the game, trying to bring up a conversation about maybe we take tomorrow’s game off,” Malone admitted.

Jokic, who has been logging crazy minutes lately—41, 45, 38, 39—was having none of it. “What I love about Nikola, he was like, ‘Hell no. Come on, man. Coach, I’m playing. That’s not even a conversation.” He downplays injuries, shrugs off fatigue, and refuses to make excuses. The coach then shared a bit more of what Jokic feels.“‘Am I tired? Sure, everybody’s tired. Am I a little beat up? Sure, everybody’s a little beat up, but I want to play.'” Imagine you are the coach. How do you deal with such a rough mentality guy?

And his reasoning? Classic Jokic. He was frustrated about the loss and wanted to make things right. So, instead of sitting out, he went out and tried to torch the opposition—dropping 10-of-23 from the field, pulling down 13 boards, dishing 9 assists, and making huge defensive plays.

However, Malone might be right to be worried. Right now, he’s dealing with not one, but two injuries—an ankle sprain from March 2 against the Celtics and a nagging elbow issue that messed with his shot against the Thunder. After that game, Malone saw an opportunity to protect his star, and it was then he brought up the idea of resting. Of course, you saw how well that went!

How the Nuggets Handle Jokic’s Relentless Mentality

While Nikola’s hunger shows his passion for the game, and Malone rightly appreciates the warrior mindset, but then he knows there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. “If there’s a point where his injury is at a point where he shouldn’t be playing, then it’s not a ‘hey, what do you think?’ It’s ‘you’re out,'” Malone said. So no matter how sportingly Jokic takes his game, the question of putting the body in the line will not arise, hints the boss. But this man is a completely different breed, and why do we say that?

That attitude is almost extinct in today’s NBA. Load management is the norm now (as it should be)—whether it’s Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, or Luka Doncic, teams are extremely careful with their superstars. But the thing about Jokic? He never let it get to that point. It is a joke for him.

“His availability the last 10 years has to be second to none. Has anybody ever played the amount of games that Nikola Jokic plays?” Malone asked rhetorically.

That’s what makes this so tricky for Denver. On one hand, Jokic refusing to sit is why they’re so good. On the other hand, they need him fresh for the playoffs. So how do you manage a guy who won’t let himself be managed? At the end of the day, Jokic is a machine—but even machines can break down. If the Nuggets want a repeat of the 2023 run, they’ll have to figure out how to balance his relentless drive with keeping him healthy for the long haul.

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For now, though, it’s simple. Nikola Jokic isn’t sitting. Not unless someone forces him to.