How Jokic can pass English, Issel on waytotop

Chemistry major. Every one of the other four players on the allNBA first team would rather play alongside Nuggets center Nikola Jokic than Joel Embiid of Philadelphia. It’s not about points or blocks, but the chemistry established by making your teammates better. As a point center, Joker has rewritten the rules for his position. Bill, chillin’ in Costa Rica

Kiz: Being named the NBA’S best center is Jokic’s first step in a long, long journey to the Hall of Fame. Down the road, can he surpass Alex English or Dan Issel as the best player in Nuggets history? If Joker can become the first player to lead Denver to the NBA Finals, the answer is a resounding yes.

A.D. 2019 and beyond. Kiz, I love the boldness with your talk about the Nuggets trading for Anthony Davis from New Orleans. It’s a great conversation to spark thinking outside the box. But are the Nuggets finally reaching a point where Jokic and Jamal Murray can attract a superstar free agent? I would much rather take that route than the risk presented by trading for Davis, who could become a free agent after next season. Scott, driving the bus

Kiz: My fear is Denver management has grown so enamored with this young core that the team largely stands pat after a successful season. How’s that strategy working out for the Rockies in 2019?

Kawhi not? What about free agent Kawhi Leonard for the Nuggets? In many ways, Leonard would be an even better fit with Jokic than Davis. George, Westminster

Kiz: Would the Nuggets like the look of Leonard in a Denver uniform? Of course. For me, Leonard is right there with Steph Curry and Jokic as the most outstanding performer in this year’s playoffs. But I expect that either Los Angeles or Toronto will be Leonard’s basketball home next season.

Large shoes to fill. DJ Lemahieu should never have been traded. What we have now at second base is worthless. Shame. Shame. Carol, disgruntled fan

Kiz: Here’s the thing about Brendan Rodgers. He’s got as much, or more, pop in his bat than Lemahieu ever did. But will the new second baseman’s glove ever be golden? I doubt it. Enduring bumps in the learning curve of a young infielder tests the patience of everyone, from teammates to the manager. The additional challenge here? Rodgers is replacing a fan favorite, so fans are often quicker to grouse at the television or fire an angry email to a knucklehead sports columnist than to give the kid a chance.

And today’s parting shot is a friendly reminder to Broncos cornerback Chris Harris that to be insulted by a salary of nearly $9 million per year doesn’t always play well with the working-class stiffs who cheer for him on football Sundays.

On the money. I’ve never understood athletes — like Harris, among others — who develop outsized egos. Pro athletes should feel lucky that thanks to our country’s misplaced values, they can make millions playing a game. Instead, we have all this posturing about how underpaid they are and how disrespected they are. You have my sympathy being around these babies all the time, Kiz. David, resident of the real world