Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic could be the most notable Serbian player in league history.
At 25-years-old and in his sixth NBA season, Nikola Jokic has only continued to reach new heights in the Mile High, putting the Denver Nuggets in position to make their third straight playoff appearance with career performances that seem to come every week now.
The Joker is averaging 26.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game (all career-highs) while shooting 57.4% from the field, 38.4% from 3-point range and 83.6% from the free-throw line (where he’s taking a career-high 5.8 attempts per game).
Three games into the 2020-21 season, Jokic recorded a new career-high in assists with 18 against the Houston Rockets. Then three games after that, the ‘Cookie Monster’ reached a new career-high in steals with 7 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. By the time that Jokic would pull down a career-high 22 rebounds in a matchup against the-then sizzling hot Phoenix Suns, he already had five triple-doubles (he would record his sixth in the Nuggets’ win over the Suns that night).
Last night, Jokic tied a career-high 47 points to help Denver break the Utah Jazz’s 11-game winning streak. He could have went for 50.
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At this point, Jokic isn’t just an early-season MVP candidate but a legitimate MVP candidate. However, with All-Star voting already underway, the conversation surrounding Jokic is also centered on what should be his third straight All-Star selection.
It’s unclear whether or not there will be an actual 2021 All-Star Game but, if Jokic has any say, he hopes there will be. While he’s not one for excessive fanfare, he can’t help but want to represent his home country.
“Being an All-Star,” says Jokic, “it’s an honor. You represent a lot of people back home; Serbia, Sombor, my family. It’s honor to be there.”
Asked Nikola Jokic if he wanted an ASG or a break: "I was All-Star last 2 years .. I'm in shape. The rest, break, of course, 'Where to sign right now?' But being an AS, it's an honor, you represent a lot of people, back home, Serbia, Sombor, my family. It's honor to be there."
— Mike Singer (@msinger) January 30, 2021
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The Sombor, Serbia native is certainly patriotic, having played for Serbia’s national basketball team four times since 2013. He still frequents his home country with his brothers and his wife, whom he even married in Sombor (where they both hail from).
While Serbia also has Bogdan Bogdanovic and Boban Marjanovic representing their country in the world’s top basketball league, Jokic doesn’t have a fellow countryman who has a chance of being named an All-Star this season. That said, the responsibility would fall squarely on his gargantuan shoulders, a weight that he would be happy to bear.
Jokic has the ability to be the first Serbian NBA player named as a three-time All-Star since former star forward Peja Stojakovic, who is the only Serbian player to have have done so. In fact, Jokic has the chance to be most recognized and successful Serbian — if not European — player of all-time.
However, what’s most impressive is that Jokic is so humble that even though he’s aware of what brings him this distinction, he isn’t driven by it; he’s driven by winning, by representing his brothers-in-country and brothers-in-arms.
He’s already done an admirable job with both.