Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Known by the nickname “The Joker,” Jokić is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players and centers in NBA history and is often celebrated as the best stealer ever. before now.
A former six-time NBA All-Star, Jokić was selected to the All-NBA Team six times, including four first-team honors.
He was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite players.
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- Full name: Nikola Jokic
- Stage name: Nikola Jokic
- Date of birth: February 19, 1995
- Age: 29 years old
- Place of birth: Sombor, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
- Nationality: Serbian
- Profession: Serbian professional basketball
- Height: 2.11 m
- Parents: Branislav Jokić and Nikolina Jokić
- Siblings: Strahinja Jokić and Nemanja Jokić
- Spouse: Natalija Jokić (née Macesic)
- Children: Ognjena Jokić
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: 80 million USD
Early life and education
Nikola Jokić was born on February 19, 1995 in Sombor, Serbia, then part of FR Yugoslavia. He is the son of Branislav Jokić, an agricultural engineer, and Nikolina Jokić. Nikola has two brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, who are a decade older than him.
Both brothers played basketball in Serbia, with Nemanja later playing college basketball for Detroit Mercy and CW Post, as well as playing professionally for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Steamers in the Premier Basketball League.
Jokić completed his secondary education at the High School of Economics in Šabac, where he achieved a perfect score of 5.00.
He continued his studies at the University of Belgrade, earning a Bachelor of Computer Science from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences in 2019, graduating with a respectable GPA of 9.25. He is ethnically Serbian, but his religious beliefs are not known to the public.
Career
Nikola Jokić began his basketball career in the early 2010s, playing youth basketball for Vojvodina Srbijagas. He attracted attention with his impressive performance, including achieving a total index of over 50 in 2 consecutive matches.
In December 2012, he signed for Mega Vizura, initially playing for their youth team. By the age of 17, he had appeared in five games in the Serbian National League, averaging 1.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. In February 2013, he signed a four-year contract with the team.
Jokić was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft and joined the team in the summer of 2015. During his rookie season, he averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds, earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team. in 2016.
By the 2018–19 season, he earned his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections while leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals.
During his early years in the NBA, Jokić showed outstanding talent. Highlights include a 23-point, 12-rebound game against the San Antonio Spurs and a career-high 27 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the Toronto Raptors during his rookie season. His consistent performance helped him finish third in the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
Jokić made history as one of only three players to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, along with legends Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. He also became the first player in NBA history to repeat his unique statistical performance in multiple seasons, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest centers of all time.
On the international stage, Jokić is an important contributor to Serbia. He helped the national U-19 team win a silver medal at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship and was named MVP at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Jokić played a key role in helping Serbia win the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Jokić announced his return to the Serbian national team in 2022 after a three-year hiatus, participating in EuroBasket and the FIBA World Cup 2023 qualifiers.
In 2024, he was named to Serbia’s preliminary roster for the Summer Olympics, continuing his commitment to representing his country at the highest levels of international basketball.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @jokicnikolaofficial
Personal life
Nikola Jokić is married to Natalija Jokić (née Macesic), his high school sweetheart. The couple began dating in 2013 and became engaged in January 2020. They married on October 24, 2020, in their hometown of Sombor, Serbia.
Together, they have two children. Their first child, a daughter named Ognjena, was born in September 2021. In November 2024, they welcomed a son, whose name has not yet been publicly revealed.
Net worth
Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets’ Serbian center, has an estimated net worth of $80 million as of 2024.
His wealth mainly comes from a lucrative five-year contract extension worth $276.1 million signed in 2023, making him one of the highest-paid players in NBA history. During the 2024 season, Jokić earns a base salary of approximately $51.4 million.
In addition to his NBA earnings, Jokić also benefits from endorsement deals with famous brands such as Nike and Western Union, which further solidifies his financial success. These partnerships have cemented his status as a global basketball icon and leading figure in sports marketing.
