Nikola Pekovic to Yell at Teammates if They Don’t Pass Him the Ball

Nikola Pekovic is a man of few words, which doesn’t make him any less terrifying. This season, he’s preparing to be much more vocal, and start demanding the ball. Per the Pioneer Press: “You don’t want him to get mad at you,’ Wolves guard J.J. Barea said. ‘Every time you see him in the paint and he’s open, you have to get it to him.’ The Wolves have told the soft-spoken Pekovic to be more vocal on the floor this season in demanding the ball. As the team’s most physically imposing player, Pekovic is taking on a more assertive role in the middle, especially with power forward Kevin Love out until at least mid-December because of a broken right hand. Love’s absence puts most of the Wolves’ inside load squarely on Pekovic’s muscular shoulders. ‘The guys are smart enough to see me if I’m in good position,’ Pekovic said. ‘They will pass me the ball, but sometimes if they don’t see me and I’m open, I might yell or something.’ […] Pekovic speaks English well enough to get his point across, but the third-year NBA player understands that he will have to do more than just raise his arm when he’s open in the lane. ‘I know they’re expecting a little more from me with Kevin out,’ Pekovic said. ‘Everybody is pushing to do more. I will try to do my best. Every day I am working on new things and trying new moves.'”