Over the years, Nikola Jokic has done more to endear himself to Nuggets fans, Denver fans, and American sports fans in general. He came here as a little-known, big, goofy Serbian guy who was drafted in the second round while ESPN aired a Taco Bell commercial.
Since then, Jokic has become one of the best basketball players the world has ever seen, winning three NBA MVP Awards and bringing a championship to Denver, along with countless other achievements. He has become an icon of the sports world and has become much more comfortable with his own fame, especially in America.
Still, there are times when he feels like an outsider, and someone who would rather be anywhere but the United States. So it’s always a nice reminder when he goes out of his way to show how much he truly cares and appreciates everything he has and the fanbase that has supported him through thick and thin.
Jokic honors MacKinnon with NHL's MVP Trophy presentation
Denver fans got a great glimpse of that on Saturday night as Jokic attended the home opener for the hometown NHL squad, the Colorado Avalanche. But Jokic wasn’t just there to watch the game and cheer on the local team, he was there to present a great honor to another Denver sports star.
Jokic made a guest appearance to come onto the ice and present the Av’s Nathan MacKinnon with the Hart Memorial Trophy for winning the Ted Lindsay Award, being named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
It’s a Denver thing pic.twitter.com/rWOQg4FkDw
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 13, 2024
It’s already incredibly cool that Denver shares two current league MVPs among the big four leagues, but it’s even cooler to see the two kings of the city interacting and paying hommage to each other. Jokic seemed in high spirits, donning an Avs sweater as he made a speech and cheered on MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
MVP CITY!!! pic.twitter.com/Z0CuOLtAPz
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 13, 2024
Both players have experienced a great amount of individual success, but both players saw their teams dip last season and come up short of their ultimate goals. This will be a big bounce back season in Denver as both teams look to get back to their winning ways and championship standards.