Nikola Jokic is a Serbian player (Image via Getty Images) With an impressive career of more than a decade, one of Denver Nuggets‘ biggest stars Nikola Jokic has left his mark on the NBA. Even though he is from the small Serbian town of Sombor, he made it to Denver in 2015. He was born in war-torn Serbia. Jokic shared a two-bedroom apartment with his mother, father, grandmother, and two brothers. He once said during an interview that his brothers pushed him towards greatness.
Nikola Jokic opens up about his hometown and the quiet place that he misses
Nikola Jokic has a Serbian heritage. Jokic does not hesitate to show his affection for his parents, despite spending the majority of his time in Denver with his wife and daughter. He said during one interview: “I’m homesick. I want to go home right now. I mean, I am the third kid, and I am a little closer with my parents than [my brothers] are. After my career is over… I’m gonna go back there. It’s super slow—not too much going on—but you have everything… How I say, no place like home? Something like that.” While living in Serbia, they shared a small flat with two bedrooms. There, Jokic would play basketball with his siblings while a tiny toy hoop hung on the door. He was four years old in 1999, when the war in Serbia was going on. In an interview with Bleachers Report, he revealed:”I remember things like sirens, bomb shelters, always turning off the lights. We practically lived in the dark. Even at like 9 a.m., everything was turned off.” However, he only had positive memories of the place once the war was over. During an interview with SLAM Magazine, he stated:”It’s a really small town in the northwest of Serbia. We have nice nature. But I just like the people there. It’s like a family. I actually like Denver as a city — it reminds me a little of my hometown in Serbia because I like nature, mountains, rivers and trees.”Nikola also mentioned his desire to go back to Serbia in an interview with Bleacher Report. He revealed:”After my career is over, I’m gonna go back there. It’s super slow — not too much going on — but you have everything. You have a canal, nature; you can get peace of mind outside the city. I just like to be some place where I know how to drive a car without navigation…”Jokic has always dedicated his success as a basketball player to his family’s support and encouragement, particularly from his brothers.
NBA legend makes strong prediction about Nikola Jokic’s mindset ahead of the new season
As the regular season approaches, two-time NBA MVP and current Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Steve Nash recently talked about Jokic. He said that Jokic playing “with a bit of a chip on his shoulder” in the upcoming season is something he would not mind. Furthermore, he also predicted that Jokic will finish his career in the top three or four statistical players in the league. Jokic averaged just under 30 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists during the season, marking the first triple-double in his career. Also read: “He wasn’t the superstar he is now”- Michael Porter Jr. opens up on doubting Nikola Jokic’s greatness in Denver Nuggets training camp