Multiple NBA podcasters, reporters, and social media presences have created content over the past week talking about their wild experiences bumping into Jokic at summer league…but not Nikola. While Nikola is miles away, enjoying horse races in Serbia and preparing for EuroBasket, his older brother, Strahinja Jokic.
Strahinja has been all over Las Vegas, appearing at games and making his presence felt. The Ringer’s Zach Lowe talked on a recent podcast about his experience of running into Strahinja at his hotel's weight room. He noted that Strahinja was already working out when he got there, and was still working out when he left.
Chris Vernon also talked about being wowed by Strahinja with Dave Jacoby on a recent episode of the Mismatch. The two discussed whether there was any rational way to approach him for a conversation without the situation being extremely uncomfortable.
Why is Strahinja Jokic at summer league?
The barbs were all lighthearted and filled with adoration, but it’s clear from everyone who talks about Strahinja: he is not someone to mess with. It’s fascinating to see he’s around the NBA ether so much while Nikola couldn’t be less present. Perhaps he is doing diligence on Nikola’s behalf, keeping an eye on the Nuggets, possibly even recruiting future teammates.
Or maybe he just likes to have fun, and he’s out in Las Vegas trying to have a good time. Either way, it’s an interesting twist on the whole Las Vegas Summer League experience, and one that doesn’t seem to have been expected by most NBA people in the know.
Both of Jokic’s brothers are big parts of his life and were integral parts in helping him achieve the heights he has on a basketball court. Strahinja, especially, has reached some levels of fame on his own for his incredible size and presence to go along with his mohawk hairdo.
He furthered his own legend in many ways by punching a Lakers fan in Ball Arena during a 2024 game, which led to a civil lawsuit. While that may be the only violent outburst to go viral, a sense of power and danger follows the massive Strahinja everywhere he goes.
So, while Nuggets fans would love to see Nikola spend a summer in the States, tagging along to summer league and cheering on his teammates, they’ll just have to settle for the next best thing. Strahinja Jokic in Vegas, acting as an enforcer for his brother, and Nuggets Nation at large.