Nikola Jokic makes Serbian horse races, despite delay for NBA Championship parade
Denver Nuggets fans can rest easy tonight. Nikola Jokic made it to his horse race in time.
The two-time NBA MVP made headlines last week after his peculiar reaction to winning the NBA Finals. Not only was Jokic mild-mannered following the win but also lacked excitement when being informed about the upcoming parade.
“I need to go home,” Jokic said during the postgame press conference.
Home for Jokic is Sombor, Serbia. The 28-year-old NBA star was greeted by over 47,000 people as Jokic returned home for a local horse race. For reference, Sombor has a population of just over 41,000 people.
Jokic wasn’t only a spectator, but a supporter. Jokic’s family’s stable participated in several races. The Denver Nugget cheered on the horses in the company of his wife and daughter, brother, father and friends.
Jokic unsurprisingly declined to speak with the press. However, he smiled as the crowd cheered when he entered the venue wearing a shirt with the text “Dream Catcher” on it. Dreamcatcher was the name of the first horse Jokic purchased years ago.
While Jokic intially said he had no interest in the parade, he seemed to warm up to the idea by the end of the event.
“You know that I told that I don’t want to stay on parade, but I f**king want to stay on parade. This is the best,” Jokic told the massive Denver crowd on Thursday.
Thankfully for NBA fans, Jokic’s love for equine sports didn’t pull him away from basketball entirely. The five-time NBA All Star is already considered an all-time great, averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists per outing this season.
The crafty center only improved in the postseason, contributing 30.2 points, 14.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 58.3% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. Jokic was the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in total points, rebounds and assists.
Jokic enjoys the hardwood but he loves the race track. Jokic first went to a horse race when he was around 12 years old with his father. Reportedly, the talented big instantly took an interest in the sport.
He claims the horses are like athletes, big and athletic. If the Jokic family’s horses resemble the Denver Nuggets’ legend at all, they’re going to have a lot of success in the forseeable future.