Nikola Jokic admits he cried over traded Nuggets teammate

The Serbian superstar confessed that he went emotional about Garry Harris’ trade departure in 2021 from the Aaron Gordon trade.

Nikola Jokic went emotional upon learning that he had to bid goodbye to one of his close teammates in the Denver Nuggets.

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During the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened NBA season, the Nuggets pulled the trigger and acquired Aaron Gordon. But at the expense, they had to ship Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and a protected 2025 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic.

The Serbian superstar told Bennett Durando of The Denver Post that he actually cried about Harris leaving their group.

“I remember saying goodbye to Gary,” he said, “and I cried because I was so sad. We had a little bit (of a) good connection, and we played really good.”

During the Nuggets’ humble beginnings, Harris served as one of the team’s core pieces along with Jokic and Jamal Murray, being drafted as the 19th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Unfortunately, injuries completely disrupted his potential and momentum in Denver. In the end, the Nuggets had to take a bittersweet breakup by sending him to Orlando.

Apparently, despite the heartbreaking reaction from Jokic, the Gordon trade still served as the biggest and most important in the Nuggets’ history. The arrival of the do-it-all forward catapulted Denver towards serious contention, ultimately clinching the franchise’s first-ever NBA title in 2023.

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