The Denver Nuggets have benched power forward Nikola Jokic for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons. The team has opted to start Kenneth Faried in his place.
This news comes in light of the Nuggets consistency of starting both Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic together.
Jusuf Nurkic forced the hand of coach Michael Malone in the offseason to insert him into the the starting lineup, shifting Jokic to the power forward position as a result.
Jokic has struggled in his role as a power forward alongside Nurkic, averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest which is significantly down from his numbers last season.
A reason for the decision has not been specified, but keep in mind once last season ended, Jokic went straight into training for the Serbian national team for the Summer Olympics, meaning he could need some rest.
The move will also allow him to shift back to the center position which will hopefully jumpstart his play.
The Nuggets will start Faried in his place. This will be Faried’s first start this season, after losing the starting job in the offseason.
Faried has played well so far this season, averaging 7.4 points and nine rebounds per game. Faried’s trademark is his ability to provide an energy source, something the Nuggets needed after a flat performance against the Golden State Warriors.
It is unknown if this will be a long-term decision moving forward for the Nuggets.
Stay tuned to the Mile High Sports for the latest on the situation.
