Denver Nuggets and 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Nikola Jokic, 21, used to consume three litres of Coca-Cola daily.

When you think of the NBA and professional athletes, you associate supreme fitness and diets.

But Denver Nuggets centre and 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Nikola Jokic did not exactly follow the guidelines of an elite basketballer in the United States.

Drafted by the Nuggets in 2014, 21-year-old Serbia international Jokic opened about his alarming daily consumption of soft drink Coca-Cola.

"Maybe three litres or so. It was a lot," Jokic told ESPN.

"Never in the morning, because we had practices in the morning, and I could never drink before.

"But after practice, it was glass after glass. I couldn't stop."

Asked if he still drinks coke, Jokic replied: "I haven't had any in the last one-and-a-half years.

"On my flight to come to Denver, I had my last Coke ever."

And he kicked the habit without any withdrawals, adding: "It was easy. It felt really good, actually. It was good to know I didn't need it."

Jokovic is averaging 12.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Nuggets this season.