Two KK Mega Bemax products are dominating NBA headlines before a single preseason game has been played — and they're doing it together.
Jokic Sets His Sights on Staying Available — and Maybe Staying in Denver
Nikola Jokic enters year 12 with a target that sounds deceptively simple: play more games. After a knee injury limited the three-time MVP to just above the 65-game threshold in 2025–26, Jokic has publicly declared his primary goal for the upcoming Nuggets season is a career year in availability. For a player who has redefined the center position and won three MVPs, logging healthy nights might matter more than any individual stat line.
The stakes, however, extend well beyond box scores. Denver faces a genuine threat of losing its franchise cornerstone. Multiple reports confirm the Nuggets organization is on alert about Jokic's long-term commitment, with his future in Denver under meaningful scrutiny heading into what could be a pivotal season for both sides. The Nuggets added DeMar DeRozan and other pieces around Jokic and Jamal Murray this offseason, signaling urgency — but whether that roster construction is enough to satisfy a superstar who has also been openly candid about his discomfort with fame and the relentless spotlight of NBA stardom remains an open question.
Jokic's recent comments on the Jao Mile podcast added layers to the offseason narrative. He spoke frankly about the exhausting nature of public recognition, signaling a player wrestling with the costs of being one of the most famous athletes on the planet. None of that frustration has dimmed his competitive edge — but it offers context for why his future is being watched so closely.
Zubac Earns the Highest Praise Possible — From Jokic Himself
While Jokic's situation in Denver draws the biggest headlines, his former fellow KK Mega Bemax product Ivica Zubac is making serious noise on the other end of the country.
Now in Indiana after the Pacers acquired the Croatian center, Zubac has already generated significant buzz heading into his first season with the team. His inclusion gives the Pacers — led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam — one of the more intriguing starting fives in the Eastern Conference.
The most telling endorsement, though, came from an unlikely source: Jokic himself. Asked which defenders give him the most trouble, the Nuggets star named Zubac as one of the toughest he faces — significant praise from arguably the hardest player in basketball to guard. Jokic also weighed in on Rudy Gobert, whose playoff defense last spring held Jokic to a career-worst 44.6% field goal percentage, and Zubac's mention in that same conversation underscores just how much respect the Pacers' new big man commands.
A positional preview out of Indianapolis frames Zubac as central to Indiana's championship aspirations, a credible anchor alongside one of the East's most dynamic backcourt setups. The road to acquiring him ran through a winding series of roster decisions — including Kawhi Leonard's choices with other franchises — but the Pacers enter this season confident they've found the frontcourt presence they've needed.
For KK Mega Bemax alumni trackers: two centers, two franchises with legitimate title hopes, and one very interesting regular season ahead.
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