From Serbia to the Summit: Jokic’s Rise

Nikola Jokic’s draft story is the NBA’s "hidden gem." In 2014 he was picked 41st in the second round by Denver; nobody banked on this overweight Serbian kid.

Jokic grew on two "soft" assets: elite basketball IQ and the softest touch. He needs no soaring athletics—positioning, timing, and vision rule games. Teammates and coaches quickly learned: give him the ball and the offense lives.

The 2023 title made him a face of the league. As a Serb, he fueled his homeland’s hoops fever, a Balkan flag after Divac.

From 41st pick to FMVP, Jokic spent a decade telling the world: being underestimated just means others couldn’t see your worth.

Related Reading

• 2023 Summit Crown: Jokic Leads Nuggets to First Title
• Point Center: Jokic the Basketball Artist
• 2023 Nikola Jokić FMVP Breakdown（一）
• 2023 Nikola Jokić FMVP Breakdown（四）
• 2023 Nikola Jokić FMVP Breakdown（五）