There's a new interview making the rounds with Nikola Jokic, and the Joker said something that probably every Nuggets fan can feel warm and fuzzy about. He basically confirmed that as long as he gets his way, he'll be a Nugget for many years to come, and he wants to close out his career in Denver. Music to our ears!
What a great statement to come out at a time when fans need a pick-me-up after the latest drubbing occurred at the hands of the Knicks. The timing is impeccable.
The Joker was interviewed by a Serbian podcast called "X&O's CHAT" where he said two things about Denver and the Nuggets that fans should be ecstatic about, as Jokic has truly become a Denverite, and he's here to stay.
Jokic's going to close out his career in Denver
The first piece is that he wants to remain a Nugget until he hangs it up. When asked about playing for another team, Jokic replied, "I wouldn't like to imagine that." He continued, "I really found peace here. My two kids were born here. Everyone's here. Peace, home, I found my life here. And I like life here. I don't feel the need, I don't have the urge to."
That statement all but assures that as long as Jokic wants to remain the best player in the world, he'll call Denver home. An entire career in one uniform.
Which is a rarity amongst those in the GOAT debate. Jordan played for the Wizards on his retirement tour, and Wilt played for three teams. LeBron has made his rounds, and even Kareem wasn't immune.
And if you don't want to put him in the GOAT debate, you have to slide down the list to Bird, Dirk, or Duncan, depending on your GOAT's, before you find guys who played for only one team.
Joker could play longer than people thought
There's been chatter that because Jokic loves horses and he's perceived as not caring about MVP awards, that he would probably hang it up earlier rather than later. Well, not sorry to burst that bubble.
"I want to play as long as I can," Jokic said, which will open the door to more GOAT debates as he starts to crush more records and pass more greats along the way. "As long as I'm creating an advantage and I can play at the highest level."
All together, it's an interview that hits on a wide-range of topics, and it's worth a watch for anyone who enjoys the Joker. He almost seems more comfortable because it's conducted in Serbian, making for a natural flow for the big man from Sombor.
And thanks again for giving us that warm, fuzzy feeling, Joker. We look to keep it up for many years to come, too.