Nikola Jokic put together the most dominant postseason stretch imaginable, partied the week away, then made it home to his beloved equine friends.
Nikola Jokic became the first player in league history to lead the NBA playoffs in points, rebounds, and assists. He was rewarded with the Finals MVP trophy after the Denver Nuggets gentlemen swept the Miami Heat out of the Finals to complete the best season in franchise history.
Known as much for his stoic demeanor and aversion to stardom as he is for his tremendous on-court talent, there was concern that Jokic wouldn't really enjoy the festivities that traditionally follow winning the NBA championship.
Well, it's safe to say he had a good time.
Nikola Jokic partied all week and still made it back to Serbia in time to watch horses
After the initial despair of not booking an immediate flight home, Jokic adjusted well to life as NBA champ in America. He spoke glowingly about the fanbase at the Nuggets' parade and then jetted off to Las Vegas with his teammates, where he plainly had the time of his life.
If you need any further proof of Jokic's capacity for partying, Nuggets wing Bruce Brown has you covered in NSFW fashion.
But fear not, Jokic made the seamless transition from reveling in Vegas to horse-watching in his hometown of Sombor, Serbia over the weekend.
Jokic's love of all things equine is well-documented. His typically spends his summers off the grid, either riding horses or watching horses and making no effort to further his commercial stature in the U.S. While the NBA would probably love it if Jokic spent more time in the public sphere, he's content to let his game do the talking. And man, has it talked.
Now that Jokic has established his reputation as the greatest basketball player on earth, the commercial elements will follow suit — no matter how ardently he tries to duck and hide. He showed up to the horse race in Sombor with fresh Nike gear, including a custom hat that reads "No Joke."
Frankly, that's a tremendous catchphrase and there's going to be a lot of Denver-area customers who will gladly partake in Joker merchandise. One has to imagine the Nuggets will enter next season as the presumptive favorites to repeat as NBA champs.
All that said, don't be surprised if Jokic spends the biggest summer in Denver history lurking in the Serbian shadows, downing a few ice-cold brews and enjoying the beauty of god's creation. Horses are majestic creatures. It's nice to see such a prominent role model in the world of sports embrace them like Jokic.
