These days, there probably isn’t anyone who isn’t accurately aware of the phenomenal center that is Nikola Jokic. He’s quickly gone from an exciting prospect (though, one that could have flopped) to quite possibly one of the best men to take an NBA court. With his exciting play and incredible skill, Jokic has set an entirely new standard for modern-day centers.
While he hasn’t been able to lead the Nuggets to their first franchise NBA Championship, that exact thing doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for the fantastic foreigner if both he, and the team around him, continues to improve. With all the new attention brought to him, there are surely plenty of people seeking more information on Nikola Jokic.
10 The NBA Wasn’t His First Major League
While most NBA stars begin their careers when they make it to the NBA, that actually wasn’t the case for Jokic. Instead of heading to college with hopes of being drafted, Jokic actually played for the Serbian league, KK Mega Basket.
By all accounts, Jokic proved dominant even in the early phases of his career. While he wasn’t playing at the level he is today, he was still managing to stand out almost every time he took to the court. It’s never a good idea to count out Jokic.
9 He Wasn’t A Major Draft Pick
Due to the route that Jokic took to get to the NBA, he actually wasn’t all that amazing of a draft pick. He managed to get selected in the second round of the NBA Draft, and it likely only took that long due to team builds and his lesser-known name.
While many fantastic stars come from Europe, a lot of people tend to ignore that region when looking for the next great NBA star. It’s much easier to follow American college basketball, often making those young men the top prospects.
8 He Loves Horses
A lot of people can forget that NBA players have lives off the court. Not every player spends every waking moment of their life thinking about basketball, and Jokic is a man that proves that. Apparently, Jokic has a serious love for horses of all things.
He likes horses so much that he actually did some competitive horse racing when he was younger. It’s a unique hobby and passion for an NBA player, but just another thing that helps Jokic stand out from the typical basketball players.
7 He Has A Unique Shot
Before acknowledging his unique shot, it’s also worth acknowledging the fact that Jokic plays a pretty unique style in general. He’s one of the stranger movers on the court, making him hard to block, and analysts have even compared him to water polo players.
With that said, Jokic’s Somber Shuffle is one of the most perplexing shots in the NBA. It’s a one-legged jump that has proven difficult for most players to effectively block. That shot has led to plenty of success for Jokic at whatever range he feels like.
6 He Loves Soda
Most people probably don’t think about sugary drinks when they think of their favorite athletes, but Jokic used to love himself a lot of soda. The love was a bit of a problem, as it wound up being something that he had to quit.
People have made claims that Jokic would drink as much as three liters of soda before stepping onto the court. It’s probably a good thing he kicked that habit, and his teeth will probably be thanking him for it as well.
5 He Came From Humble Beginnings
It is pretty rare to hear about an NBA star that wasn’t either born into greatness or has a bit of a rags to riches story, and Jokic doesn’t break that trend. It’s said that he grew up in a tiny apartment with a decently sized family.
Cramming six people into a tiny two-bedroom apartment is definitely not ideal, but it seems that Jokic and his family were able to overcome their circumstances in their own ways. Jokic’s success likely saw a nice improvement in homes for his family.
4 He Holds An Impressive Record For Triple-Doubles
For NBA fans looking to draft up their own dream team, a quick look at those capable of consistent and dominant triple-doubles is likely to help make the strongest team possible. Jokic might just be one of the best triple-double machines in NBA history.
His sheer output is already more than impressive, but his record for fastest triple-double earned makes him even more impressive. He has the fastest triple-double in NBA history with it only taking him fourteen minutes and thirty-three seconds to do it.
3 He Wasn’t In The Best Shape In Serbia
Most people look at basketball players as some of the biggest athletes at the peak level of competition, but Jokic couldn’t always be seen that way. Apparently, before he made it into the NBA, Jokic was incredibly out of shape.
He’s said that he lost as much as thirty pounds in one major push in his personal fitness, and it’s even been said that at one point while in Serbia, Jokic couldn’t even complete pushups. It’s a serious shock to think about when anyone sees him on the court today.
2 He Was Drafted During a Taco Bell Commercial
Every basketball player dreams of the day they get drafted, but Jokic likely didn’t expect what happened to him. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a misrepresentation of the truth, but no, one of the greatest players in NBA history was actually drafted while a Taco Bell commercial played on the air.
It was probably a moment that made the fact that he had been drafted even harder to believe. Still, it’s a funny way for a career to truly begin and fits perfectly with the charismatic personality Jokic can have.
1 He Had A Funny Injury
Most NBA players find themselves injured on the court. The injury can take them out for the remainder of the game, or potentially for the rest of their career. Luckily for Jokic, one of his injuries is actually a bit funny, especially since it wasn’t serious.
The injury was some simple inflammation of the hand and wrist, caused by simply signing too many autographs. That’s right, Jokic took a brief injury simply because he appreciated his fans a bit too much.