Nikola Jokic’s Emotions After Winning Horse Race Surprises Fans: “NBA is the Side Quest”

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has often talked about his approach to basketball as a just a job and not his primary focus in life.

Nikola Jokic’s Emotions After Winning Horse Race Surprises Fans: “NBA is the Side Quest”

Nikola Jokic shedding tears after his horse won a race (Image via FirstSportz)

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Fans know Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as one of the, if not the best, basketball players in the world. The Serbian’s unique skills and elite IQ have helped him rise from a 2nd-round pick to become a 3-time league MVP and a champion.

Ever since his skills came to the forefront, the Nuggets have tailored their game plans to maximize his potential. That plan has worked as the franchise has become accustomed to being a postseason juggernaut.

Had their front office managed to keep some of their championship-winning role players, they could have fought for another one. However, that has not been the case, which is why the ownership let them go before last season ended.

This season, they are looking to rectify many of the past mistakes and have made some impressive moves. Even though Michael Porter Jr. left, they brought in 4 players for less than what he made. Most importantly, a center that can give Nikola Jokic some more minutes of rest.

All of this should excite the 30-year-old about their prospects next season. Instead, it seems something else is giving him utmost joy and happiness. Clips of the Serbian in his hometown flooded social media.

It shows him shedding tears of joy after his horse won a race in Subotica, Serbia. Once his horse crossed the finish line, one video shows him breaking down in tears. Then, when the horse and its driver returned, he ran over, hugged the driver, and patted his horse.

Fans bewildered as Nikola Jokic shows where his heart lies

It is not that basketball fans are unaware of Nikola Jokic’s nonchalant approach to basketball. He has made it clear that it is just a job for him, and he finds joy by spending time with his family and his horses.

Nikola Jokic did not show similar emotions after winning NBA title
Nikola Jokic did not show similar emotions after winning NBA title (Image via Open Source/X)

But they were not prepared to see the 30-year-old shed tears in this manner after winning a horse race. Fans realized he wasn’t messing around for the cameras when he talked about what brings him joy.

To see the Serbian pour his heart out when he cracked just one smile after winning the 2023 NBA Championship, and not even one all 3 times he was awarded the Michael Jordan MVP trophy was surreal. They shared their shocked reactions on social media, examples of which are below.

In a country where athletes design their lives around basketball, Nikola Jokic has proved that there can be a life without it. Watching these clips gave fans all the proof they needed to reaffirm that the sport is just a job for the Serbian. His true joy lies elsewhere.

Nikola Jokic will have a deep team around him next season

After winning the 2023 NBA championship, Nikola Jokic and his teammates have struggled to get past the 2nd round of the playoffs. In the 2024 edition, their lack of bench production became their undoing.

Last season, injuries compounded matters, and it became apparent that the team needed to fix the situation if they wanted to avoid upsetting their most important player. He had declined the option to sign a contract extension this season, which could be a clear message to the franchise.

He may just be looking to sign a bigger deal next year, but the prospect of losing him for nothing will be enough pressure for the franchise to rethink their strategies from these last 2 years.

Once the offseason started, they were one of the first teams to make significant moves. Even though Russell Westbrook remains unsigned, they have brought in good pieces that can give the team some much-needed help.

This has many believing Nikola Jokic could make the Denver Nuggets the most important challenger to unseat the Oklahoma City Thunder as champions. They might have to wait until the team hits its stride, but with the Serbian helming their schemes, they should be fine.

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