When the best player in the world adopts a performance tool, people notice. This season, Nikola Jokić—three-time NBA MVP—has been spotted using the NICE ROCC palm cooling device during practice and on the bench. You can see it in the NBA’s behind-the-scenes practice video and in an NBA social post featuring the ROCC on the sidelines in the gym.
He also used it courtside during the Nuggets vs. Bulls preseason game on Oct 14, 2025 (Denver won 124–117), as captured in social clips from that night.
What is Jokić holding on the bench?
Short answer: the NICE ROCC, portable palm-cooling device designed to pull heat from the blood vessels in your palm, an efficient pathway for regulating core temperature between efforts.
Why Jokić (and other pro basketball players) use palm cooling
Heat is a performance limiter. When core temperature climbs, muscles fatigue faster and output drops. Peer-reviewed research, popularized by Stanford research, shows that palm cooling between bouts can increase work volume, preserve strength, and extend endurance, primarily by accelerating heat extraction from the core.
On the court, that translates into three clear use-cases:
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During training – Palm-cooling breaks between sets help athletes keep quality high for more total work (more reps, more quality sprints), which compounds training gains. PubMed
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In-game, on the bench – Quick cooling during timeouts or rest stretches helps players shed heat and feel more ready to re-enter late. (That’s exactly when cameras have caught Jokić palming the ROCC.)
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Post-game – Starting recovery ASAP by managing temperature can reduce the “overheated” hangover and help athletes bounce back for the next session. BioMed Central
How does palm cooling actually work?
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Mechanism: The palms contain specialized blood vessels (AVAs) that act like radiators. Cooling them rapidly removes heat from blood returning to the core. PMC
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Outcomes in studies: Significant strength and work-capacity improvements when palm cooling is used between sets; extended endurance in heat-sensitive populations; and faster subjective recovery between efforts.
See it for yourself
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Jokić at practice interview (NBA on X): X (formerly Twitter)
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Nuggets vs. Bulls, Oct 14, 2025: Jokić palming ROCC on the bench (NBA): YouTube
How pros slot NICE ROCC into their routine
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Training days: 90–120-second palm-cooling breaks between heavy sets, sprints, or small-sided games.
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Game days: Short bouts during timeouts, end-of-quarter breaks, and halftime to manage heat load.
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Post-game: A few minutes of cooling to kick-start the recovery window.
Want the basketball-specific guide? Dive into Palm Cooling for Basketball. NICE Recovery Systems
FAQ
Q: Is Nikola Jokić using palm cooling?
A: Yes. Multiple practice and game-night clips show Jokić with a ROCC in hand this preseason.
Q: What is the “thing” Jokić holds on the bench?
A: It’s the NICE ROCC palm-cooling device from Nice Recovery Systems.
Q: Why are Jokić and the Nuggets using palm cooling?
A: Because heat management matters. Research shows palm cooling between efforts can increase total work, maintain output, and help athletes feel more ready to go back in. That’s crucial late in games.
Related reading
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How Pro Athletes Use Palm Cooling to Maximize Performance (methods & routines). NICE Recovery Systems
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Sprint Performance & Repeatability with Palm Cooling (for speed and small-sided conditioning). NICE Recovery Systems
