Just because Nicola Jokic isn’t interested in becoming an American celebrity doesn’t mean he’s destined to cut his NBA career short.

The conversation linking the two things was brought back to social media feeds this week following an Austin Rivers appearance on Bill Simmons’ podcast. Simmons asked Rivers, who spent a couple of seasons with the Nuggets, how long he thinks Jokic will play. Rivers said there was “no chance” Jokic plays until he’s 39, but he thought five or six more seasons sounded about right. That would have Jokic finishing his career at 34 or 35.

“I don’t think he really gives a (crap) about the American pop culture and trends and fame and relevance,” Rivers said. “Those things just don’t interest him like really, deeply to a core. The things that do interest him aren’t those things. I don’t see him hanging around. He’s already a champion. He’s an All-star. He’s an MVP.”

The insinuation is Jokic doesn’t love the game enough to tolerate a few extra years in America. Simmons cited Jokic’s preference to spend most of the offseason in Serbia, as if spending the offseason closest to his other passions - family and horse racing, in some order – proves he would cut his career short.

Jokic’s actions seem to provide a counterargument.

The work he puts in to continually improve even after he became a perennial All-star and two-time Most Valuable Player indicates a certain level of competitive fire and love for the game. He does roughly an hour of maintenance, whether that’s stretching or getting an extra lift in, after just about every game. He’s long since reached a point where he could get content, but he hasn’t. One championship is not going to change that.

Jokic hasn’t publicly made any concrete declarations about the intended length of his NBA career. Doing so would be very unlike Jokic. It all feels like correlation not being causation.

The season can’t start soon enough.

WHAT I’M READING

The 76ers and James Harden are wading into dangerous waters.

The point guard still hasn’t had his trade request granted with the Philadelphia heading to Fort Collins for training camp next week. A holdout looks likely if he’s still on the roster a week from now. Gina Mizell looks at Philadelphia’s options should Harden decide to hold out for the Inquirer. Spoiler alert – there aren’t many great options on the 76ers roster at the moment.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

The Nuggets’ G League coach, Andre Miller, got some love from Andre Iguodala during a recent appearance on “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. Host JJ Redick asked Iguodala who are the smartest players he’s ever played with. Iggy didn’t miss a beat before bringing up his former teammate with the 76ers and Nuggets.

“Andre Miller taught me so much. Like, he was soft-spoken and didn’t say much. On the court, he would always ask me ‘What do you see?’ I’m like year three (or) four, so I see things but not on his level or not to the level I see things now. Back then, I’m still learning, and I can’t answer this question. ... But, the more he asked me, the more I would go back and watch film, like, I’m going to have an answer for him every time he asks me.”

Sounds like a good guy to have teaching some of the Nuggets’ young talents in Grand Rapids.