Nikola Jokic is probably the least flashy superstar in NBA history. The Denver Nuggets icon is one of the premiere talents in the league, but he’s not worried about the advantages that come with that status.
Many people have lobbied for Jokic to be more embraced and celebrated by the league, but it’s obvious he’s not interested in any of that. His peers know that, and Kevin Durant reflected on this, claiming that Jokic has other interests besides being an NBA superstar.
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“I don’t think Jokic wants or cares to be a star. Go to work and go home, FaceTime his horses and hop in the pool,” Durant quote-tweeted a video that shows Dan LeBatard saying that Jokic would be a bigger star if he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in the United States.
The now-deleted tweet perfectly explains how Jokic feels about his NBA job and how much sleep he loses over the fact he doesn’t get the same attention as other players. During the Los Angeles Lakers series, Jokic made it clear his team is used to being ignored by the media, and that won’t change anytime soon.
Kevin Durant has spoken only good things about the Serbian player, even predicting he would retire as one of the best centers to ever play the game. He’s been on a tear this playoff, posting 30.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.1 assists in 17 games for his Nuggets.
Jokic was already great in the regular season, posting 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists. Now that the pressure is heavier, he hasn’t slowed down and took his game to the next level.
Nikola Jokic Says There Are More Important Things Than Basketball
Even with all of this, the Serbian player sees his NBA career as a job, and he’s not as obsessed with the game as Kevin Durant. Jokic even admitted that he has more reasons to be happy and enjoy life. It’s been a rough path for him to be where he is right now, but Jokic doesn’t stop.
He’s still competitive and a very s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed player that can control the game even without the ball in his hands, but basketball isn’t everything that’s in his mind. Jokic is three wins away from becoming an NBA champion, and a win tonight against the Miami Heat would be crucial for him and the Denver Nuggets.
After so many years struggling in the playoffs, he’s ready to go to the promised land, only to leave for Serbia and go see his horses, as KD said.
