Valanciunas Says He Has Never Seen Anyone Work Harder Than Jokic

Jonas Valanciunas offered a different view of Nikola Jokic than the one that usually travels online.

On the BasketNews Off the Record podcast, Valanciunas said Jokic's public image can make people miss the daily work that sits underneath it. The clips are familiar: horses, summer, beer, a superstar who often sounds like he would rather be home than talking about basketball. Valanciunas said that version is only one piece.

"People see one photo, some appearance somewhere, maybe they spot a guy having a beer or doing something else, and it's very easy to form an opinion," Valanciunas said. "But then there's the work that goes on behind the scenes. Jokic is a perfect example of that."

Then he made the point plainly.

"In my 14 years as a professional, I've never seen anyone work harder," Valanciunas said.

Valanciunas described Jokic as someone who would arrive early at the facility, get shots up and add extra work before the rest of the day unfolded. After games, the routine did not stop.

"He's at the facility early in the morning, getting shots up, putting in extra work," Valanciunas said. "After every game, we'd hit the weight room. Every single game. He plays 40 minutes, I play my eight, and we'd still do exactly the same workout afterward. His work ethic is something else."

The recovery piece sounded just as detailed. Valanciunas said that after an 8 p.m. game, he might leave the arena around 11 p.m. Jokic, at that point, could still be on the training table, going through another massage or another 45 minutes to an hour of treatment.

"Whatever needs attention, he takes care of it," Valanciunas said. "After the weight room, after the shower, after everything, he always has a routine. Everything is planned out."

Valanciunas also defended the off-court side. If Jokic has a beer in the summer or spends time with his horses, he said, that is Jokic's business. The part people do not see is the grind that makes the rest possible.

During the season, Valanciunas said, it can look like Jokic has no life outside basketball. That is not the usual Jokic punchline, but it may be the cleaner explanation for why the game keeps looking so easy.