Skill Training #1 (with Nikola Jokić)
Hooking up with Jokić for hook shot training.
Perfect training for me.
Some might say, "Why does a non-center need hook shots?" But it wasn't like training for something like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook. Jokić himself called it hook shot training, but over half the time he was firing floaters.
That was exactly what I wanted to learn.
This'll diversify my post-up options.
In my case, post-up finishes were drives or layups/dunks after pivots—attacks that inevitably required closing in on the rim. Otherwise, it was just jump shots. Adding floaters here would change everything.
If I nail it, I can release way faster than a jumper.
No need to get right under the rim either, expanding my range. The floater and hook shot shared similar arcs anyway. Mitić chimed in.
"The difference? Hook's more like tossing it. Floater's like pushing it up."
And both relied on touch. That final moment when the ball snags on your fingertips—it decided success or failure. Jokić had a god-given gift for it. When I kept bricking, he got visibly frustrated.
"Flick it like you're scraping it with your fingerprints. Like this."
"Like this?"
"No, not like that. Like this!"
"Wait, what's the difference...?"
From the side, Coach Greco and Mitić tossed in pointers.
"Don't think jump shot just 'cause you're watching the back of your hand. It's different. You're shooting it like a jumper right now."
"Yeah. Jumpers are all about tossing the ball. But floaters, layups—one-handed finishes? It's all fingertip feel."
Different approach from jumpers. I mulled it over.
Like a layup, then...
Layups cupped the ball from below with your palm, while floaters flipped it palm-up. Opposite techniques. Still, I got the vibe and focused on that feel. Whoosh! The ball arced high, floated softly. Swoosh! Clean swish, barely any rim contact. Jokić nodded right away.
"That's it. But too high. Put it right on the rim direct. Highest make rate."
Greco added, "That's the teardrop. Remember it for dodging blocks."
About an hour in, Jokić gave the thumbs-up.
"But the real test starts now."
You had to release before the defender contested post-pivot. Jokić matched up against me to show how brutal it was. Screech, screech! Pivot shakes him loose, eyes lock on rim, fire the floater. Half a second before his contest arrived. Clang! Miss.
Whole different beast from layups.
Layups let me watch till the end, but floaters? No time. Meant it was lightning-fast for the defense too, though. As I struggled post-pivot floaters, Mitić smirked.
"At this rate, runner's half a year out."
He demoed a runner: charged baseline to top, jumped from free-throw line, floated it. Thud! Swish! Off the glass. I nodded, convinced.
"Practice is the only way. Niki, can you help next time too? Wanna make this a regular session."
Jokić agreed easily. Blocking my floaters was good D for him too.
"Greco, that cool?"
"I'll tell the head coach. No way he'll say no. You've proven post-ups exploit size mismatches against shooting guards."
"Perfect."
Floater training wrapped. Greco joined for some 2-on-2 patterns. Then—thud! Gym door flew open. Sweat-drenched Shin Subin appeared.
"What're you doing here? Thought you were out with your dad."
"Wanna train too."
"Alright, c'mon then."
But twenty minutes later, Jokić and Mitić bailed—enough for a rest day. Subin sighed deeply.
"Hyung, call me next time for this stuff. Please. You know I'm no good at solo training."
He sounded gutted. Felt a bit guilty.
"Normally, yeah, you're in. But your folks came all the way from Korea. Where are they now?"
"Dunno."
"Dude... Let's head back. They're probably worried."
"Said we'd train till dinner."
"Gotta rest sometime."
Anyway, I'd grasped the training keys. Got a glimpse of Jokić's growth edges.
Touch is key, but I need his court vision.
His vision differed from mine. I tracked visible paths; he predicted invisible ones. Piecing the whole from fragments. Tactical IQ or animal instinct—either way, elite.
Can't copy it straight-up.
Court vision defies words. I'd adapt his something-or-other to my player-path-reading style.
Our Mega Vizura kept cruising. Beat KK Cibona for 8-6, then swept Cedevita on the road December 29th to keep momentum. Cedevita's star Jusuf Nurkić sat injured, so not a total cakewalk, but a win's a win. Took Igokea and Krka next—four straight.
"Yeeeeeeah!"
"Championship bound!"
Post-game locker room: pure hype, everyone howling. Mega Vizura's first Adriatic League season ever. A debut champ? League first since inception. Club got antsy. Ending sponsor hunt this season—title would sweeten deals big-time. Hence:
"Ri, that graduation? Gotta go?"
Didn't love me flying home a week.
Partizan away loomed then too—big four.
My stance: firm. Contract's a contract.
"Sorry, no can do. You know graduation's weight."
"Sigh... Fine."
No pushback. Nurkić's injury shook Cedevita; even a Partizan L, we'd clinch fourth on others. Partizan no slouch either—EuroLeague double-duty, games every three days. Us? Weekly pace.
NBA does that every season?
Back-to-backs too. Brutal. Schedule slack let quality training. One day, post-Jokić floater/PnR work, chilling. Subin rolled up after team threes.
"Hyung, wanna get tight with Jokić too."
Huge for attachment-averse Subin.
"Play wingman? Haha... We're not that close."
"You are."
"Just teammates."
Foreigners split work friends from real ones. Inviting home? That's tight. Not "office bros."
Timing for that level-up, maybe...
Subin spoke up, tomorrow off too. Pitch Jokić? First, Mitić for advice. He had the perfect hook... but weird.
"What kinda nonsense? Seriously say that?"
"Trust me. Straight fire."
Hesitant, but blame him if flop. Dragged Subin to water-chugging Jokić.
"Hey Niki, free tomorrow?"
"Huh? Why?"
"If yeah..."
Mitić pranking?
"...wanna hit a ranch, check horses?"
Not stargazing, but.
"Hell yeah! Where? You know one?"
"Uh, no, not really..."
"My spot then! Can ride 'em. Let's go!"
Jokić hyped AF. Next day: chaos. Ranch views, rides. Track too. Thoroughbreds, bloodlines, distance/sprint/miler genes. Europe long, seen horses, but this deep? First. Fun enough, bantered well—dinner invite.
Home: family welcome. Bros intimidating, but fluent German won 'em. Hometown Sombor German-speaking, whatever. Next gym:
"Brat! Get home safe?"
"Brat"—Serbian for bro. Horse trip maxed inner bond.
Grad week pre. February 2: home vs. Crvena Zvezda. Second-place beasts. Win locks fourth odds. Warming up, shadow loomed.
"Hey, you the Asian dropping 25 a game?"
Turned: massive. Flinched.
First time looking up at someone.
2m10? Eye-level squint. This guy? Neck crank. Wearing 2m27. Freak giant. Boban Marjanović offered handshake.
"Nice to meet. Loving your play."
"Uh, yeah. You too."
Palm engulfed mine—kid vibes. But:
My play makes him happy?
Head-tilt. Mitić bounded over.
"Bobi! Long time. EuroLeague sucked, huh."
"Skill issue. Knee good, Mitch?"
Teammates buddy-buddied. Simple: Last season, Boban dragged us to first-ever Adriatic. He joked easygoing.
"Knew you'd ball, mighta re-signed."
"Fun, but we'd bankrupt."
"Hahaha!"
Chill vibes. Boban blessed me too, back to his court.
Nice guy.
Unlike looks—approachable, chatty. ...Off-court only. Game time: rim-protecting guardian king.
This height legit?
Danube standing-blocked. Mitić kicked out—no finish dare. Then—whoosh! Elbow jumper. Boxed for D-reb.
Crunch!
"...!?"
Back: car-weight slam.
"Nngh...!?"
Lisandro Martinez felt this? Pure power beyond dreams. All backboard tricks to barely hold. Bought Jokić the board, but sweat poured. Boban light-praised.
"Tougher than expected?"
Down-gaze. No offense. Beating his power? Impossible. Surviving? Proud. Teammates too. 13-14 timeout. Shock.
"Tanked Boban? What are you?"
"Whoa... Even Jusuf Nurkić struggles."
But coach Milojević shook head—no more.
Spotted stamina drain.
"They're baiting it. Jokić! You box Boban next."
"Eugh... Got it."
Jokić grimaced, nodded.
"Aggressive PnR, ball movement! Drop-back D—loop passes, cracks open. Finishes: quick, clean! Late means that height swats. Got it? Run it!"
They parked Boban inside, drop-back mismatch dodge. Pop or passwork only. And.
Clean rim finishes. Only one way.
Floater practice debut.