SAN DIEGO — Nikola Jokic held court for at least 15 minutes.

A trio of NBA referees surrounded him as he pointed to various spots on the floor, as he ushered JT Orr to the free-throw line, as he mimed a euro step move without a basketball and absorbed the ref’s explanation of legal defensive position. A couple of Nuggets assistant coaches shook their heads laughing as they walked by the otherwise vacated practice court at UC San Diego.

With animated curiosity — and maybe some notes of defiance — Jokic took advantage of his opportunity to talk shop with league refs in a non-game environment. They were in the building to officiate the Nuggets’ (mostly) closed-door scrimmage Thursday, and Jokic’s competitive spirit was still high after practice, as if to mirror the intensity of the actual a

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