Nikola Jokic's Rise

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Lore & Background

Jokić's journey began in Sombor, Serbia, where he grew up in a two-bedroom apartment with his parents, grandmother, and two older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja. He developed a love for basketball playing with his brothers, who were a decade older, while also competing as an amateur in harness racing. After drawing attention with Vojvodina Srbijagas by achieving a total index rating greater than 50 in consecutive games, he signed with Mega Vizura in December 2012. Initially playing mostly for the junior team in 2012–13, he appeared in five Serbian League games at age 17, averaging just 1.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. By the 2013–14 season, his role expanded significantly; over 25 Adriatic League games, he averaged 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. His breakout came in 2014–15 when he led the ABA League with 9.3 rebounds and an index rating of 22, earning regular season MVP honors after a standout performance against Igokea where he scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

In Their Own Story

Drafted 41st overall by the Nuggets in 2014, Jokić's selection was famously overshadowed on the ESPN broadcast by a Taco Bell commercial. He joined Denver in the summer of 2015, averaging 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in five summer league games before signing his contract. His rookie season saw him finish third in Rookie of the Year voting and earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, highlighted by a then-career-high 27 points against the Toronto Raptors on February 1. The true turning point arrived in the 2016–17 season. After starting the first eight games, he was moved to the bench on November 12 but returned to the starting lineup on December 15—a date fans now call "Jokmas." Acting as the offense's fulcrum from the high post, he recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Milwaukee Bucks. He followed this with back-to-back triple-doubles within 13 games, including a 40-point performance against the New York Knicks. By season's end, his six triple-doubles ranked fourth in the league, finishing second in Most Improved Player voting.

Reader's Guide

Jokić's ascent from a second-round pick to a three-time MVP is marked by specific statistical milestones and historic firsts. In the 2018–19 season, he earned his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections while leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals. He followed this with a trip to the Western Conference Finals the next year. The 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons saw him win back-to-back NBA MVP awards. In 2022–23, despite finishing second in MVP voting, he captured the NBA Finals MVP title after leading Denver to their first championship. The following season, he averaged a triple-double for a second consecutive year with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. He holds records for the fastest triple-double (14 minutes, 33 seconds) and is the only player to record a 30-point, 20-rebound, 20-assist game.

Did You Know?

• Jokić is the lowest drafted player in NBA history to win either the MVP or Finals MVP award.
• Russell Westbrook holds the official NBA record for the fastest triple-double, achieving it in 11 minutes.
• Jokić is the only NBA player ever to achieve a game with 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists.
• As a child in Serbia, Jokić competed as an amateur in harness racing, a passion he still maintains today.
• Jokić is one of the few players in NBA history to lead the league in assists per game as a center.