Nikola Jokić
Jokić with the Denver Nuggets in 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 – Denver Nuggets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 19, 1995 Sombor, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Serbian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 284 lb (129 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2014: 2nd round, 41st overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2012–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Mega Basket | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–present | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at NBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Nikola Jokić (/ˈjoʊkɪtʃ/ YOH-kitch;[1] Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Јокић [nǐkola jôkitɕ] ⓘ; born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Joker",[2] he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time,[3] and is often considered the greatest draft steal in NBA history.[4] A seven-time NBA All-Star, Jokić has been named to the All-NBA Team on seven occasions (including five first-team selections), and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Jokić was selected by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft. He was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2016. In the 2018–19 NBA season, while leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals, Jokić received his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections. The following season, he once again received All-Star and All-NBA honors, while leading his team to the Western Conference Finals. In the 2022–23 NBA season, Jokić was awarded NBA Finals MVP after leading the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship. He ranks third all-time among NBA players with the most triple-doubles and holds the record for the fastest triple-double (achieved in 14 minutes and 33 seconds).[5] He is the only NBA player ever to achieve a 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists game.[6]
- ^ "2023–24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Singer, Mike (June 10, 2023). "Nuggets Journal: Mike Miller saw something special in Nikola Jokic. So he gave him a nickname". denverpost.com.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Pina, Michael (June 13, 2023). "Where Does a Title Put Nikola Jokic in NBA History?". The Ringer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- House, Alex (June 18, 2023). "Where Does Nikola Jokic Rank All Time After Winning 2023 NBA Finals?". ClutchPoints. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- "Where does Nikola Jokic land among best players in NBA history? The Sporting News ranks top-25 all-time". sportingnews.com. June 14, 2023. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- Reardon, Logan (June 13, 2023). "Where does Nikola Jokic rank among the best centers in NBA history after title run?". NBC Connecticut. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- Johnson, Matt (April 20, 2024). "Best NBA players of all time: Ranking the 20 best NBA players ever". Sportsnaut. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- Hollinger, John (May 9, 2024). "After another MVP, where does Nikola Jokić rank among the greats?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- Bailey, Andy (June 18, 2024). "Ranking the Top 50 NBA Playoff Performers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- Richardson, Shandel (September 12, 2024). "ESPN's Kendrick Perkins Bold Take On Best International Player, Most-Skilled NBA Center". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- McKeone, Liam (December 26, 2024). "Kevin Durant Declared Nikola Jokic a Top-10 Player of All Time After Suns Beat Nuggets". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- Pavon, Josue (January 27, 2025). "Nuggets' Nikola Jokic hit with Wilt Chamberlain comparison by Kevin Garnett". ClutchPoints. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- Sam, Doric (April 2, 2025). "Anthony Edwards Jokes Nikola Jokic Might Be Best NBA Player He's Seen Besides Himself". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- Kasabian, Paul (April 5, 2025). "Steve Kerr Calls Nikola Jokic 'Best Center' Ever, 'Kareem Couldn't Do All This'". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- Garry Acedera, Shane (May 15, 2025). "Paul Pierce argues that Nikola Jokic's prime is better than everyone's but Michael Jordan's: "Is better than Bron's, KD's and Steph's"". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- Bailey, Andy (August 27, 2025). "Ranking the Best European NBA Players of All-Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Pelton, Kevin (June 14, 2023). "'This really funky, effective player': How Nikola Jokic's greatness escaped NBA scouts". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- Kiplagat, Edwin (June 16, 2023). "Is Nikola Jokic the Greatest Draft Pick in NBA History After Championship Triumph?". SportsBrief - Sport news. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- Wright, Michael C. (June 24, 2021). "10 biggest NBA Draft steals from the last 10 years". NBA.com.
- Haverford, Joey (November 25, 2024). "The 21 Biggest Draft Steals In NBA History". TheSportster.com.
- ^ Redford, Patrick (February 16, 2018). "Well That Was A Spectacular, Historic Game From Nikola Jokic". Deadspin. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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