SAN DIEGO — Nikola Jokic lets other people worry about his stats for him.

Like his brother Nemanja, who delivered him the news of a particularly novel NBA rule change this offseason.

The “heave rule,” colloquially.

“My brother is very happy about it,” Jokic said, grinning.

It will impact him more than any other player in the league on paper, and less than any other in spirit. Unsuccessful end-of-quarter heaves will no longer be counted as a missed field goal attempt for the player, the NBA announced in September, hoping to incentivize players to shoot them more often without worrying about their individual stats. In a business where percentages can be weaponized in contract negotiations, the rule’s intended effect is to liberate the players.

And to fish for clout online.

The league e

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