From Bombing Blackouts & Horse Racing to a Taco Bell Commercial on Draft Night, Nikola Jokic Has Had a Wild Path to the NBA Championship
We called them “unicorns” over a decade ago. It was a reference to the rarity of the (mostly European) 7-footers who did a little bit of everything. For most of basketball history, big men parked it in the post. They couldn’t shoot and pass like point guards. But that’s not reality in today’s game. The last five five NBA MVP awards have gone to foreign 7-footers — Nikola Jokic (Serbia, 2), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece, 2) and Joel Embiid (Cameroon, 1). It’s the era of the unicorn. And in the case of the Joker, it’s been a wild ride from small-town Serbian underdog to basketball’s mountain top.
Jokic’s Early Life
After two MVPs and a staggering run of record-breaking triple-doubles, the Jokic backstory has been widely reported. And it paints a picture of a family-first guy with little desire to bask in the spotlight. He’s a star of few words, and he’ll always be that way.
Jokic grew up in with two older brothers — Strahinja and Nemanja — in Sombor, Serbia. His two brothers can be found in the stands and virtually every game, often celebrating with the team and tossing head coach Michael Malone on their shoulders. And it’s no surprise their brotherly influence helped make Jokic the tough and talented player he is today.
When the Jokic brothers were younger, the nearby was in Kosovo led to bombings to blackouts that left the family without electricity for months. It was in those dark nights where Jokic and his brothers resorted to basketball. But he had another love.
Basketball vs. Horses
That’s right. Nikola would’ve been the biggest jockey you’ve ever seen, but that didn’t stop him from falling in love with horses at a young age. Jokic raced horses as a teenager, but he couldn’t help that his body was made for the basketball court. He was offered a professional contract with Mega Basketball at 17 years old, and his game developed quickly. A proficient passer and shooter with the size to dominate the competition, Jokic quickly drew the attention of NBA scouts. Two years later, he was preparing for the NBA Draft.
Draft Night (& Taco Bell)
We sportswriters often talk about the “underdogs” in terms of draft projections. The players who fly under the radar and grow into superstars are typically the easiest to define because there’s a trail of projection that failed to measure a player’s greatness. Jokic was one of those European prospects few had heard of in 2014. But in the middle of the second round, the Denver Nuggets took a flyer on the 19-year-old sluggish kid from Serbia. The pick was so late in the night and disrespected by the broadcast that it was announced during a Taco Bell commercial.
With the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets selected a future Hall of Famer and the guy who would deliver the franchise’s first championship. And Taco Bell’s new Quesarito was all the rage.
The Mountain Top
Jokic took a few years to grow into his 7-foot frame, but the Serbian sniper still trots up and down the court like the old guy at your local YMCA. He earned five all-star nods, back-to-back MVPs (2021 & 2022) and continues to shatter triple-double stat records en route to the Nuggets’ first title and a Finals MVP award. Jokic could’ve been a three-time MVP this year had Joel Embiid not had a spectacular season. Regardless, the Joker is on track to be the NBA’s all-time triple-double king when it’s all said and done. He’s only 28 years old and just got a taste of his first title.
NBA All-Time Triple-Double Leaders
1. Russell Westbrook (198)
2. Oscar Robertson (181)
3. Magic Johnson (138)
T4. Jason Kidd (107)
T4. LeBron James (107)
6. Nikola Jokic (105)
7. Wilt Chamberlain (78)
The Jokic Fam
One of the most refreshing aspects of the NBA’s latest spotlight star is his humble approach to the game, and life. While the Jokic brothers give a glimpse into the tight-knit family vibes, Nikola’s wife, Natalija, and daughter, Ognjena, are clearly head and shoulders more important than his basketball career.
There were no tears by the big man after his first NBA championship. Only one clear message that gives insight into his priorities: “The job is done. We can go home now.” Jokic even made a retirement joke in the post-game press conference after Game 5. Jokes aside, he certainly gives off the early-retirement vibes as a guy who puts way more focus on family than a game. And I admire that.
Go home, Nikola. Enjoy your family time.