Denver Nuggets Wiretap

Nikola Jokic Still Deciding On Playing In Olympics

Jun 9, 2024 12:07 PM

Nikola Jokic is undecided about playing for Serbia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Denver Nuggets center said he had to "think about it", after Denver's season ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Serbia's head coach, Svetislav Pesic recently called a report that Jokic had committed to playing "fake news". Pesic said that Jokic will let Serbia know "when the time comes".

Jokic last played for Serbia at 2022 EuroBasket. The three-time NBA MVP sat out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup after the Nuggets run to the NBA title.

Serbia will compete in Group C at the Olympics. Group C includes the United States, South Sudan and the winner of the Puerto Rico Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Eurohoops

Tags: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Serbia, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, National, National Olympics, National Teams

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David Adelman To Interview For Cavaliers' Head Coaching Job

Jun 4, 2024 1:41 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers have received permission from the Denver Nuggets to interview David Adelman for their head coaching vacancy.

Adelman has also met with the Los Angeles Lakers during this coaching cycle.

Adelman has been an assistant coach with the Nuggets since 2017.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Michael Porter Jr.'s Injury Comeback Can Revolutionize The NBA

Jun 1, 2024 1:50 PM

• Special to RealGM by Dr. David Schechter & Alec Kassin

Michael Porter Jr. played some of the best basketball of his life this season. 

Helping to lead the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals by eliminating LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, Porter averaged 22.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, and shot 49.8% from 3-point range. 

LeBron summed it up by saying, “Michael Porter’s the one who kicked our ass.” 

And yes, the Nuggets lost their next series in seven games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Porter apologized to his teammates for not performing at his best. 

Performance aside, what isn’t debatable is the fact that Porter was healthy and on the court this entire season - for the first time in his career.

It’s not by accident.

Porter has struggled with back pain since high school. Despite becoming the #1 ranked player as a teenager, he was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease in 10th grade.

He missed his first season in college due to his first back surgery. Since then, he’s had two additional back surgeries, neither of which eliminated his pain for good. 

After his third surgery by the age of 25, Porter didn’t know if his career was going to survive. 

Generally, the more surgeries one has, the more difficult it is to make a full recovery.

So how did Porter manage to stay healthy this year? 

The answer is surprising, and could have a profound impact on the treatment of chronic pain in the NBA.

The Challenge of Back Pain 

Back injuries have affected the game’s biggest names, and can be stubbornly difficult to treat. 

Dwight Howard had surgery for a herniated disc in 2012 and his performance was never the same. 

Tracy McGrady’s ongoing back issues affected his career longevity. 

Scottie Pippen’s revolving door between the locker room and the court in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals left him on the bench for a large chunk of the game.

And surgical treatments for back injuries are often frustratingly ineffective. 

Over 20% of NBA players with herniated discs do not successfully return to play the following season.

And among NBA players with disc herniations, those who undergo surgery play significantly fewer games and are less effective the following season compared to those who receive conservative care. 

Surgery for other back issues, like nerve impingements and disc degeneration, can produce similar outcomes. 

Take Ben Simmons. Having undergone two back surgeries in three years, Simmons has been limited to 57 games during that span. 

The aim of surgery is to correct ‘abnormalities’ that are believed to be associated with the pain. And sometimes, surgery is necessary to relieve pain.

But surprising as it may be, there isn’t often a clear link between back abnormalities and pain. 

Consider that 37 percent of 20 year-olds without any back pain have disc degeneration, like Porter has in his lumbar spine. The number increases to 52 percent by age 30. 

So why is it that two players can have similar back ‘abnormalities’, while one is in immense pain and the other is pain-free? 

The Science Behind Porter's Pain

Studies show that up to 75% of high-performance athletes have persistent pain, and according to the International Olympic Committee, there are currently no evidence-based or consensus-based guidelines for the management of pain in elite athletes. 

Paradoxically, tissue damage has been proven to not be the main factor to explain persistent pain in athletes.

So what’s going on? 

Well, physical injuries - like ankle sprains, hamstring pulls, and bone fractures - are inevitable in the NBA. 

But cutting-edge science shows that athletes can suffer from persistent pain that mimics pain from a structural abnormality, yet is generated by the brain, called ‘primary’ or ‘neuroplastic’ pain. 

Some studies show that up to 80 percent to 90 percent of all chronic, persistent pain in the general population falls into this category. 

Surprisingly, this is true of elite athletes as well. Those with no pain or symptoms often have the exact same structural abnormalities as those who do. 

For example, 40 percent of elite athletes whose sports require significant use of a shoulder have a partial or full rotator cuff tear without symptoms. 

Approximately 64 percent of pro and college hockey players have degenerative hip changes without symptoms. 

And even 49 percent of NBA players have damaged knee cartilage, yet have no symptoms at all. 

This is why imaging, like with MRIs and x-rays, is notoriously unreliable in trying to explain persistent pain.

It also explains why Porter will tell you there’s never been anything ‘wrong’ with his back. 

He said on a recent podcast, “Every single NBA player that they would MRI would have bulging discs, probably degenerative discs, herniated discs. Some players would be symptomatic, some players won’t. That’s not what’s causing your pain.” 

What Was Causing Porter’s Pain, and How He Recovered 

After his three surgeries, Porter realized he needed another way to heal. Or else his NBA career would be in serious jeopardy. 

So what did Porter do? He started by picking up a book. 

Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno, a retired NYU physician, is a New York Times Bestseller. Dr. Sarno pioneered the concept that chronic back pain can result from internal emotional pressure, and can be successfully treated with a non-invasive, brain-focused approach. Sarno coined it Tension Myositis (or Myoneural) Syndrome.

Pressure is a key ingredient in chronic pain, and professional athletes are under enormous pressure to perform - from the time they’re scouted, sometimes as young as 12, through to the NBA. 

Financial, familial, and external pressure steadily builds, stepping up with each successive achievement. Dealing with world-class competition, on top of the normal stressors of being human, can be a perfect storm for debilitating pain.

And even trauma from childhood can predispose someone to chronic pain.

So Porter began a regimen that did not involve surgery, stretching, or conditioning, but rather education on how pain is created in the brain. 

He started responding to his symptoms with less fear. 

He connected his pain with emotional issues and pressure, working with a specially-trained therapist named Nicole Sachs

He made connections between the pressure to succeed on the court, and feeling loved.

And remarkably, his pain went away. 

It may sound too good to be true, but the results are real - and not unique to MPJ.

Studies show that two-thirds of back pain sufferers - many of whom have been suffering for years - can become pain-free with the same brain-based approach that Porter used. 

And it’s not just back pain. Knee pain, ankle pain, migraines, fibromyalgia and many more conditions have been successfully treated. Dr. Sarno reported a 88 percent pain-free rate amongst his patients, results that held up three years after treatment. Other studies show similar results.

While not right for everyone (it won’t help fractures, acute sprains, strains, etc.) this treatment is highly successful for those whose persistent pain has failed to respond to conservative treatment, and for those who have had non-ideal surgical outcomes. 

It can also be used as a low risk, high-upside approach to test before going under the knife.

While only speculation, players like Ben Simmons and DeMarcus Cousins, could be strong candidates to benefit from this treatment.

The Opportunity

Michael Porter Jr. has proven that brain-focused treatments for chronic pain can be successfully applied to stars in the NBA.

He’s also spotlighted a massive opportunity. 

Players can make full recoveries, avoid unnecessary surgeries, recover faster, and extend their careers. 

Teams can keep players healthy and on the court, and find diamonds in the rough in free agency. 

Even NBA retirees, almost half of whom have extreme day-to-day pain or discomfort, may benefit. 

Programs already exist, doctors and therapists are available, and there is a mountain of research and success stories to support their use in professional athletics. 

It wasn’t that long ago that Sport Psychology was frowned upon. Now virtually every team has a sport psychologist on staff. 

Like the first teams and athletes that employed sports psychologists, those who are willing to be early adopters of brain-based treatments will gain a significant competitive advantage. 

Just ask Michael Porter Jr. and the Nuggets.

About Us:

Dr. David Schechter is the most experienced mindbody sports medicine and chronic pain physician in the country, having published multiple works on the subject. With degrees from Princeton and NYU School of Medicine, Schechter has been practicing as a physician for over 35 years. He is on the medical staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is Los Angeles, and is in private practice in Culver City, CA.

Alec Kassin is a former semi-professional cyclist and back pain sufferer, turned chronic pain coach for high-performance athletes. Now pain free, he’s helped numerous athletes make breakthroughs with their pain. He is the Co-Founder of Pain Free Comeback, the first mindbody treatment program specifically for athletes with chronic pain.

Dr. David Schechter, Alec Kassin

Tags: Denver Nuggets, NBA

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Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 7 Averages 8.41M Viewers

May 22, 2024 1:17 AM

Game 7 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets averaged a 4.1 rating with 8.41 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

The numbers represent the largest audience ever for an early round playoff game in TNT history.

It is also the most-watched game of the NBA season.

The game peaked with 11.3 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched early round playoff game since 2012.

Game 7 between the Knicks and Pacers earlier in the day averaged a 3.4 rating with 6.45 million viewers on ABC, down 11% from last year. 

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Nikola Jokic: Wolves 'Built To Beat Us'

May 20, 2024 11:41 AM

The Denver Nuggets were a popular pick to repeat as champion, but they were ultimately eliminated in the second round by a Minnesota Timberwolves team with the requisite size and defense to slow down three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

While Anthony Edwards Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid were in place before the arrival of Tim Connelly, the former Nuggets' executive traded for both Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley with the roster being particularly well suited to play against Denver.

"I mean, I think they're built to beat us," Jokic said. "Just look at their roster. They have basically two All-Stars, two probably first-team defensive players. Mike Conley is the most underrated player in the NBA, probably.

"From the bench, they have a Sixth Man of the Year. ... [They are] one team that they can do literally everything. They can be big, small."

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Jamal Murray Says He'll Play For Canada At Olympics

May 20, 2024 8:38 AM

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said he's committed to playing for Canada at this summer's Olympics in France. Murray has missed previous competitions due to injuries, but seems to feel he's healthy enough to suit up this summer.

Murray has yet to play for the senior Canadian national team. He was set to join the Nuggets for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but did not play after the Nuggets run to the 2023 NBA title.

Tony Jones/The Athletic

Tags: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Canada, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, National, National Olympics, National Teams

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Jamal Murray Feels 'Great', 'Hungry' For Game 7

May 18, 2024 7:44 PM

Jamal Murray was limited by a right elbow injury during the Denver Nuggets Game 6 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The good news for the Nuggets is that the injury doesn't seem to be carrying over to the do-or-die Game 7.

After practice ahead of Game 7 in Denver, Murray stayed late to get up extra shots. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said that Murray "feels great" and that his star guard "looked very hungry today".

"Look like he hadn't eaten in two days," Malone said about Murray. "So hopefully that carries over tomorrow. I hope he doesn't eat until tomorrow until 6:00 p.m."

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Tags: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 4 Averages 5.61M Viewers On TNT

May 15, 2024 2:08 AM

Game 4 between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged a 2.8 rating with 5.61 million viewers on TNT.

The number is up 19% in viewership from last year, making it the most-watched series in the second round.

Game 3 of the series averaged 5.21 million viewers.

Game 4 of the Pacers-Knicks series averaged 5.03 million viewers on ABC, down 1% in viewership from last year.

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 3 Averages 5.21M Viewers

May 14, 2024 1:45 AM

Friday night's Game 3 between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 5.21 million viewers on ESPN.

The number is up 10% from the Nuggets-Suns matchup last year and is the fourth most-watched game of the playoffs.

The Nuggets have played in four out of the six most-watched games in the playoffs.

 

 

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Anthony Edwards On Jamal Murray: Keep Talking Like That

May 13, 2024 12:29 PM

After his frustration level reached a boiling point in Game 2, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets have bounced back to tie the series at 2-2 by winning both games at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Murray appears to be have his confidence back, which did not go unnoticed by Anthony Edwards.

As the game ended, Edwards and Murray crossed paths with the Wolves' star clapping his hands, nodding his head and watching Murray.

"I just told his ass we love that," said Edwards after Game 4. "'Keep talking [like] that. That's what we like.' Well, I loved it. He didn't say nothing back. But I'm pretty sure he heard me. They heard me. You live for that."

Murray had 19 points in the game, including a 55-footer to beat the halftime buzzer.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Nikola Jokic Wins 23-24 NBA Most Valuable Player Award

RealGM Staff Report

Jamal Murray Fined $100,000 For Throwing Multiple Objects Onto Floor

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Marc Davis: Jamal Murray Should Have Received Tech, Not Ejection For Throwing Heat Pad Onto Floor

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

RealGM Radio: Kevin Pelton On The Second Round (Apr 2024)

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Lakers-Nuggets Game 5 Averages 4.53M Viewers

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Nikola Jokic: Winning Is A Lifestyle For Us

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Lakers-Nuggets Game 2 Averages 4.25M Viewers

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NBA, Denver Police Investigating Incident With One Of Nikola Jokic's Brothers

ESPN

2023-24 NBA MVP Finalists Announced

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Jalen Brunson, Nikola Jokic Named NBA Players Of Week 25

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NBA Playoffs 2024: Western Conference First Round Matchups

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Timberwolves-Nuggets Averages 1.57M Viewers On ESPN

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Nuggets-Clippers Averages 1.47M Viewers Across TNT, truTV

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Hornets To Interview Charles Lee, David Adelman, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Nikola Jokic Has Comfortable Lead For NBA MVP In Latest ESPN Straw Poll

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Jamal Murray Misses Fourth Straight Game With Ankle Injury

ESPN

Suns-Nuggets Averages 1.4M Viewers On ESPN

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RealGM Radio: Keith Smith On The Season So Far (Mar 2024)

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Celtics-Nuggets Averages 1.25M Viewers On TNT

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History: Regular Season Results Of Eventual NBA Finals Teams Since 2012

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