Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić was born on the 19th of February 1995 in Sombor, a city in northern Serbia. He grew up in a cramped two-bedroom apartment shared with his parents, grandmother, and two older brothers named Strahinja and Nemanja. Basketball became a family affair as he played alongside his siblings who were a decade older than him. Both brothers pursued basketball careers in Serbia before Nemanja moved to play college ball for Detroit Mercy and later in the Premier Basketball League. The three brothers maintained friendships with former NBA player Darko Miličić throughout their youth years. Jokić also developed a passion for harness racing as a child and competed as an amateur while still growing up. This early exposure to multiple sports shaped his physical coordination and competitive spirit before he ever stepped onto a professional court.
On the 26th of June 2014 the Denver Nuggets selected Nikola Jokić with the 41st overall pick in the NBA draft. His name appeared on a news ticker near the bottom of the ESPN broadcast screen during the second round selection. A Taco Bell commercial aired simultaneously above the ticker which overshadowed the announcement of his selection. Before joining the Nuggets he had signed a four-year contract with Mega Vizura in December 2012 after playing mostly for their junior team that first season. At age 17 he averaged just 1.8 points and 2.0 rebounds over ten minutes per game in five Serbian League appearances. By the 2013-14 season he began seeing more court time with the senior team averaging 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds across twenty-five Adriatic League games. He finished the 2014-15 ABA League season leading the league with 9.3 rebounds per game and earning MVP honors four times throughout the campaign. On the 26th of March 2015 officials officially named him the Adriatic League regular season MVP before he parted ways with the team to pursue an NBA career.
Jokić joined the Denver Nuggets in the summer of 2015 one year after being drafted and quickly began accumulating triple-doubles. His first career triple-double came on the 3rd of February 2017 when he recorded 20 points 13 rebounds and 11 assists against the Milwaukee Bucks. Within days he scored a then-career-high 40 points to lead the Nuggets past the New York Knicks while adding nine rebounds and five assists. By the end of that 2016-17 season he had recorded six triple-doubles ranking fourth overall behind Russell Westbrook James Harden and LeBron James. In the following 2018-19 season he became the third-youngest player to reach 20 triple-doubles at age 23 joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. He set the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history achieving it in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on the 15th of February 2018. That same season he became the only center in league history to post a triple-double with 30 or more points without missing a single field goal.
On the 13th of June 2023 Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship defeating the Miami Heat in five games. He was unanimously voted Finals MVP becoming the lowest draft pick in history to win this prestigious award. During the series he averaged 30.2 points 14 rebounds 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the entire postseason in total points with 600 total rebounds with 269 and total assists with 186. His performance included a historic triple-double in Game 1 with 27 points 14 assists and 10 rebounds against Miami. In Game 3 he recorded 32 points 21 rebounds and 10 assists marking his tenth triple-double of that playoff run. The Nuggets had previously been eliminated from the playoffs following a loss to Portland in Game 7 of the previous year but Jokić's leadership transformed them into champions.
Representing Serbia on the global stage Jokić has achieved significant success with his national team. He won a silver medal at the 2016
Summer Olympics contributing to Serbia's strong performance in Rio de Janeiro. More recently he helped secure a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics showcasing his continued dominance internationally. These achievements highlight his ability to elevate play when representing his country alongside club responsibilities. His contributions extend beyond scoring as he often facilitates offense and controls the pace for Serbian teammates during international competitions. The combination of Olympic medals and club championships demonstrates his versatility across different competitive environments.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Nikola Jokić born?
Nikola Jokić was born on the 19th of February 1995 in Sombor, a city in northern Serbia. He grew up in a cramped two-bedroom apartment shared with his parents, grandmother, and two older brothers named Strahinja and Nemanja.
What draft pick number did Nikola Jokić receive from the Denver Nuggets?
The Denver Nuggets selected Nikola Jokić with the 41st overall pick in the NBA draft on the 26th of June 2014. His name appeared on a news ticker near the bottom of the ESPN broadcast screen during the second round selection while a Taco Bell commercial aired simultaneously above the ticker which overshadowed the announcement of his selection.
How old was Nikola Jokić when he set the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history?
Nikola Jokić achieved the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history at age 23 by completing it in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on the 15th of February 2018. That same season he became the only center in league history to post a triple-double with 30 or more points without missing a single field goal.
Which year did Nikola Jokić lead the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship?
Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship on the 13th of June 2023 defeating the Miami Heat in five games. He was unanimously voted Finals MVP becoming the lowest draft pick in history to win this prestigious award while averaging 30.2 points 14 rebounds 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game during the series.
What medals has Nikola Jokić won representing Serbia at the Summer Olympics?
Nikola Jokić won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics contributing to Serbia's strong performance in Rio de Janeiro. More recently he helped secure a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics showcasing his continued dominance internationally alongside club responsibilities.