re: Nikola Jokic pretty much hates playing basketball.

quote:

---

I'd imagine a lot of pro athletes grow to dislike their sport simply because of all the time they must invest in it over the course of their lives. It's a job and not a pickup game at the Y.

---

I think basketball is particularly unique in that there are NBA players who got to be there because of their height.

Deandre Jordan is the perfect example. He did not try at basketball until he got to the Clippers.

The strange thing with Jokic is that he is skilled and has a insanely high basketball IQ, yet seems to be totally apathetic. I think it is a bit of an act. Like a Euro Brooks Koepka.

quote:

---

I'd imagine a lot of pro athletes grow to dislike their sport simply because of all the time they must invest in it over the course of their lives. It's a job and not a pickup game at the Y.

---

Maybe some of them resent that they're almost like objects put here for our amusement, like the gladiators in the Roman Coliseum, but of course they're not killing each other.

This makes me think of the premium lounge area in Petco Park, where there's a restaurant and an indoor batting cage built in where the players rotate in and take their batting practice swings in the restaurant area. It's obviously cool from a fan's perspective but I could see being put off by that as a player, treated almost like a zoo animal.