Nikola Jokić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Јокић, suggested [nǐkola jôkitɕ] (pay attention); born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian expert basketball player Nikola Jokić for tNikola Jokić he Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) who performs the middle role. A 4-time NBA All-Star, he has been named to the All-NBA Team on 4 occasions (together with 3 first-group picks), and won the NBA Most Nikola Jokić Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.[1][2] Nikola Jokić He represents the Serbian country wide crew.
Nicknamed “the Joker“,[3] Jokić turned into selected through the Nuggets in the 2d spherical of the 2014 NBA draft. He become voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2016. In the 2018–19 NBA season, whilst leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals, he acquired his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections. In the folloNikola Jokić wing season, he all Nikola Jokić over again received All-Star and All-NBA honors, whilst main his group to the Western Conference Finals. Jokić ranks many of the pinnacle 10 on the all-time list of the NBA gamers with the maximum triple-doubles (regular season and playoffs), wherein he is the main European participant and center, and he holds the report for fastest triple-double (achieved in 14 mins and 33 seconds).[four][5] He additionally gained a silver medal on the 2016 Summer Olympics.Early existence
Jokić was born in the metropolis of Sombor within the northern a part of Serbia.[6] He grew up in a cramped -bed room condominium that housed him and his two brothers, both parents and grandmother.[7] His father changed into an agricultural engineer.[eight] Jokić advanced a love of basketball early in his lifestyles gambling with his two older brothers, who have been a decade older. Strahinja, the oldest brother, played basketball in Europe and Nemanja, the second oldest, played university basketball at the University of Detroit Mercy.[7][9] The brothers are buddies with former NBA player Darko Miličić.[10] Jokić additionally loved horse racing as a infant and competed as an beginner, a ardour he nonetheless holds today.[6][three]Professional careerMega Basket (2012–2015)
Jokić performed young people basketball in Vojvodina Srbijagas, in which he became a dominant determine and obtained interest from larger groups. In the summer season of 2012, Jokić signed a contract with Mega Vizura, even though in the first season with the group he played in most cases for their junior team in 2012–13. At the age of 17, he seemed in five video games of the Serbian League and averaged 1.8 factors and 2 rebounds in 10.2 mins in step with sport. In the 2013–14 season, he saw greater mins at the court docket for the senior crew. Over 25 Adriatic League video Nikola Jokić games, he averaged eleven.four factors, 6.4 rebounds and 2.five assists per recreation. He also played Nikola Jokić thirteen video games with the crew within the Serbian League and had comparable production, averaging 10.9 factors, 6 rebounds and three.three assists per game.
On June 26, 2014, Jokić became selected by way of the Denver Nuggets with the forty first average choose in the 2014 NBA draft[11] and following this and the departure of Ratko Varda, he have become one of the team leaders within the 2014–15 season. In the first sport of the Adriatic League, he led his team to a 103–ninety eight win over MZT Skopje, with the aid of scoring Nikola Jokić 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds for a total index rating of 44.[12][thirteen] He was named the MVP of Round 1.[14] On November three, he recorded 17 factors, 12 rebounds and season-high eight assists for a total index rating of forty, in a ninety–eighty four victory over Zadar.[15] For such performance, he changed into named the MVP of the Round 6.[16] On February 7, he scored 27 factors and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 77–88 loss to Szolnoki Olaj.[17] He turned into named the MVP of the Round for the third time in a season.[18] For his performances over the month, he became named the MVP for February, having averaged 21.7 points and Nikola Jokić 12.3 rebounds consistent with game.[19] On March 21, he scored a season-excessive 28 points and introduced 15 rebounds to assist his crew win with a hundred–96 over Igokea.[20] He become named the MVP of the Round 26, his fourth Round MVP award over the season.[21] Even though Mega Leks finished in 10th location inside the Adriatic League, Jokić have become one of the league’s maximum treasured gamers. Over 24 video games played, he averaged 15.four Nikola Jokić points, league-main 9.three rebounds and three.five assists consistent with recreation, at the same time as leading the league with the index rating of twenty-two.[22] On March 26, he become officially named the Adriatic League everyday season MVP.[23] He became also named the ABA League Top Prospect for the 2014–15 season.[24]
After the removal with the aid of Partizan Nikola Jokić Belgrade in the semifinals of the Serbian League, Jokić parted ways with the team to pursue an NBA profession.[25] In 14 games of the Serbian League, he averaged 18.four points, 10.four rebounds and 2.7 assists in step with recreation, at the same time as shooting fifty six.6% from the field.Denver Nuggets (2015–present)2015–sixteen season: All-Rookie honors
In the summer season of 2015, Jokić joined the Denver Nuggets, one season Nikola Jokić after being drafted. On July 28, 2015, he signed a settlement with the Nuggets after averaging eight.zero factors and 6.2 rebounds in five summer league games for the team.[26] On November 18, 2015, he had a then season-first-class recreation with 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 109–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[27] On January 10, 2016, he recorded a career-excessive 9 assists in a ninety five–92 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[28] On February 1, he recorded career highs of 27 factors and 14 rebounds in a 112–ninety three win over the Toronto Raptors.[29] On April 8, he set a new profession excessive with 15 rebounds in a 102–98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[30] At the season’s end, he finished 0.33 inside the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year Award vote casting[31] and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.[32]2016–17 season: Improving as a sophomore
On October 29, 2016, Jokić recorded 23 points and a career-excessive 17 rebounds in a a hundred and fifteen–113 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.[33] After starting the first 8 games of the season, Jokić turned into Nikola Jokić moved to the bench on November 12. He remained coming off the bench for the following 14 games.[34] During that stretch as a bench participant, he had a season-high 27 factors and 11 rebounds in a 112–ninety two loss to the Dallas Mavericks on December 12.[35] On December 19, he recorded a close to triple-double with 27 factors, 15 rebounds and nine assists in a 117–107 win over Dallas.[36] He had another close to triple-double on December 28, recording 16 points, a profession-excessive 11 assists and 8 rebounds in a a hundred and five–103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[37] On January 16, 2017, he scored a profession-high 30 factors in a a hundred twenty five–112 win over the Orlando Magic.[38] He passed that mark three days later, scoring 35 factors in a 118–104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[39] On February three, 2017, he recorded his first profession triple-double with 20 factors, 13 rebounds and eleven assists in a 121–117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[40] On February 10, 2017, he scored a profession-high 40 factors to guide the Nuggets to a 131–123 victory over the New York Knicks. He went 17 of 23 from the sphere and brought 9 rebounds and five assists.[41] Three days later, he set profession highs with 12 assists and 21 rebounds to go along with 17 points in his 2d career triple-double in a 132–110 win over the Golden State Warriors.[forty two]
On February 28, 2017, he recorded his third career triple-double with 19 factors, sixteen rebounds and 10 assists in a 125–107 win over the Chicago Bulls.[forty three] The following night time, he had his 2nd straight triple-double and fourth of his profession—all inside thirteen video games. He finished with 13 factors, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 110–ninety eight win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[forty four] On March 16, 2017, he recorded his 5th triple-double of the season with 17 factors, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 129–114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[forty five] On March 31, 2017, he recorded his 6th triple-double of the season with 26 points, thirteen rebounds and 10 assists in a 122–114 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.[forty six] Jokić completed the season with a 29-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist effort in a 111–one zero five season-finale win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 12.[47] His six triple-doubles ranked fourth on the season at the back of Russell Westbrook (42), James Harden (22) and LeBron James (13).[forty eight] At the season’s end, he completed 2nd within the 2017 NBA Most Improved Player Award voting[forty nine] in addition to inside the 2017 Assist of the Year voting.[50]2017–18 season: Franchise player