Jokic isn’t your typical NBA superstar.
Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic | Daniel Kopatsch/GettyImages
The Denver Nuggets didn’t know it, but they made a franchise-altering decision in 2014 when they selected Nikola Jokic during a Taco Bell commercial. He racked up a couple of regular-season MVPs before he led the Nuggets to their first-ever championship in 2023 as NBA Finals MVP.
Jokic will always be beloved in Denver, even when he retires and returns to Serbia, never to be heard from again (except he should be in attendance when his jersey is retired).
One thing about him drives fans crazy, though. It turns out it’s also a pet peeve of Serbian national head coach legend Svetislav “Kari” Pesic. Jokic and Serbia were featured in the new Netflix series Court of Gold, centered around the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Nuggets star didn’t give an interview (*pretends to be shocked*), but his teammates and head coach talked about him.
Serbian national coach says Nikola Jokic is too unselfish at times
One of the best things about watching Jokic play is seeing him rack up assists, especially his no-look passes. He makes his teammates around him better. Look at what Russell Westbrook has been able to do this season. Jokic has helped revive his career.
There are times when he needs to take the ball to the rack or look for his shot instead of passing to one of his teammates. Pesic talked about that in the Netflix series:
“Nikola is a great player for any coach. Great in every sense of the word. Sometimes, it bothers me that he’ll do his best to show, not only to me but to all players, that he’s there for them. I’d like him to be selfish sometimes. To think more of himself, but… Jokic is a team player.”
That quote sums Jokic up perfectly. How many times have Nuggets fans at Ball Arena, or sitting on their couch at home, yelled at the superstar to score? There’s nothing like watching Jokic take over a game. It’s pure magic.
Like Pesic said, though, Jokic doesn’t always think of himself. He isn’t like other NBA superstars for several reasons, especially his willingness to prioritize his teammates. It’s part of what makes him so unique.
Denver fans (and Pesic) can’t complain too much about Jokic’s unselfishness, considering the accolades he’s racked up speak for themselves. Without him, Serbia wouldn’t have left France with a bronze medal. However, being a little selfish when the moment calls for it wouldn’t hurt.