Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokić
Jokić with the Nuggets in 2018
No. 15 – Denver Nuggets
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1995-02-19) February 19, 1995
Sombor, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Nationality Serbian
Listed height 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
NBA draft 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career 2012–present
Career history
2012–2015 Mega
2015–present Denver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Serbia
Summer Olympics
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
U19 World Championship
2013 Czech RepublicTeam

Nikola Jokić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Јокић; born 19 February 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the Serbian national basketball team internationally. Standing at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), he plays at the center position. He was selected with the 41st overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2014 NBA draft.

Professional career

Mega Basket (2012–2015)

In the summer of 2012, Jokić signed a contract with Mega Vizura, although in the first season with the team he played mostly for their junior team in 2012–13. In the 2013–14 season, he saw many more minutes on the court for the senior team. Over 25 Adriatic League games, he averaged 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He also played 13 games with the team in the Serbian League.

2014–15 season

Following the selection in the 2014 NBA draft and the departure of Ratko Varda, he became one of the team leaders in the 2014–15 season. In the first game of the Adriatic League, he led his team to a 103–98 win over MZT Skopje, by scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds for a total index rating of 44.[1][2] He was named the MVP of the Round 1.[3] On November 3, he recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and season-high 8 assists for a total index rating of 40, in a 90–84 victory over Zadar.[4] For such performance, he was named the MVP of the Round 6.[5] On February 7, he scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 77–88 loss to Szolnoki Olaj.[6] He was named the MVP of the Round for the third time in a season.[7] For his performances over the month, he was named the MVP for February, having averaged 21.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.[8] On March 21, he scored season-high 28 points and added 15 rebounds to help his team win with 100–96 over Igokea.[9] He was named the MVP of the Round 26, his fourth Round MVP award over the season.[10] Even though Mega Leks finished in 10th place in the Adriatic League, Jokić became one the league's most valuable players. Over 24 games played, he averaged 15.4 points, league-leading 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while leading the league with the index rating of 22.[11] On March 26, he was officially named the Adriatic League regular season MVP.[12] He was also named the ABA League Top Prospect for the 2014–15 season.[13]

After the elimination by Partizan Belgrade in the semifinals of the Serbian League, Jokić parted ways with the team to pursue an NBA career.[14]

Denver Nuggets (2015–present)

On June 26, 2014, Jokić was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.[15]

2015–16 season

In the summer of 2015, Jokić joined the Denver Nuggets, one season after being drafted. On July 28, 2015, he signed a contract with the Nuggets after averaging 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in five summer league games for the team.[16] On November 18, 2015, he had a then season-best game with 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 109–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[17] On January 10, 2016, he recorded a career-high nine assists in a 95–92 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[18] On February 1, he recorded career highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds in a 112–93 win over the Toronto Raptors.[19] On April 8, he set a new career high with 15 rebounds in a 102–98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[20] At the season's end, he finished third in the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year Award voting[21] and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.[22]

2016–17 season

On October 29, 2016, Jokić recorded 23 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in a 115–113 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.[23] After starting the first eight games of the season, Jokić was moved to the bench on November 12. He remained coming off the bench for the next 14 games.[24] During that stretch as a bench player, he had a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 112–92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on December 12.[25] On December 19, he recorded a near triple-double with 27 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in a 117–107 win over Dallas.[26] He had another near triple-double on December 28, recording 16 points, a career-high 11 assists and eight rebounds in a 105–103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[27] On January 16, 2017, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 125–112 win over the Orlando Magic.[28] He surpassed that mark three days later, scoring 35 points in a 118–104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[29] On February 3, 2017, he recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a 121–117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[30] On February 10, 2017, he scored a career-high 40 points to lead the Nuggets to a 131–123 victory over the New York Knicks. He went 17 of 23 from the field and added nine rebounds and five assists.[31] Three days later, he set career highs with 12 assists and 21 rebounds to go with 17 points in his second career triple-double in a 132–110 win over the Golden State Warriors.[32] On February 28, 2017, he recorded his third career triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in a 125–107 win over the Chicago Bulls.[33] The following night, he had his second straight triple-double and fourth of his career—all within 13 games. He finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 110–98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[34] On March 16, 2017, he recorded his fifth triple-double of the season with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 129–114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[35] On March 31, 2017, he recorded his sixth triple-double of the season with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 122–114 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.[36] Jokić finished the season with a 29-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist effort in a 111–105 season-finale win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 12.[37] His six triple-doubles ranked fourth on the season behind Russell Westbrook (42), James Harden (22) and LeBron James (13).[38] At the season's end, he finished second in the 2017 NBA Most Improved Player Award voting,[39] as well as in the 2017 Assist of the Year voting.[40]

2017–18 season

On November 7, 2017, Jokić scored a career-high 41 points in a 112–104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[41] On November 13, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday November 6 to Sunday November 12. He became the 17th Nugget in franchise history to earn Player of the Week honors and the first since Ty Lawson in March 2013.[42] Jokić had a seven-game absence with a left ankle sprain in early December.[43] On January 8, he had his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in a 124–114 loss to the Golden State Warriors.[44] On February 15, in a 134–123 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Jokić recorded 30 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high 17 assists, reaching a triple-double with 1:54 remaining in the second quarter.[45] He recorded the quickest triple-double in NBA history in 14 minutes and 33 seconds, besting Jim Tucker's previous record of 17 minutes from 1955.[46] On February 23, he recorded his third straight triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 122–119 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[47] On March 7, he recorded 36 points and 13 rebounds in a 113–108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[48] On March 15, he recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 120–113 win over the Detroit Pistons, thus setting the most triple-doubles by a Nuggets player in a season since Fat Lever had nine in 1988–89.[49] On April 1, he had 35 points and 13 rebounds in a 128–125 overtime win over the Bucks.[50] On April 9, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday April 2 to Sunday April 8, thus earning his second Player of the Week nod for the season.[51] Later that day, he recorded 15 points, a season-best 20 rebounds and 11 assists in an 88–82 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, thus securing his 16th career triple-double and his 10th of the season.[52] In the Nuggets' regular season finale on April 11, 2018, Jokić recorded 35 points and 10 rebounds in a 112–106 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was his seventh 30-point game of the season. The loss ruled the Nuggets out of the playoffs with a 46–36 record. It was the first final-day play-in game in the NBA in 21 years, with Minnesota also vying for a spot in the playoffs.[53]

2018–19 season

On July 9, 2018, Jokić signed a five-year, $148 million maximum contract extension with the Nuggets.[54][55]

National team career

Jokić was a member of the Serbian U-19 national basketball team that won the silver medal at the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. Over eight tournament games, he averaged 7.1 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.[56] He represented Serbia at the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, where he averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game[57] while earning tournament MVP honors.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Serbia won the silver medal, after losing to the United States in the final game 96–66.[58]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Denver 805521.7.512.333.8117.02.41.0.610.0
2016–17 Denver 735927.9.577.324.8259.84.9.8.816.7
2017–18 Denver 757332.6.500.396.85010.76.11.2.818.5
Career 22818727.2.530.366.8329.14.41.0.714.9

Triple-doubles

[59]

Number Date Opponent Box Score Points Rebounds Assists Blocks Steals
1 February 3, 2017 vs. Milwaukee Bucks W 121–117 20 12 11 0 1
2 February 13, 2017 vs. Golden State Warriors W 132–110 17 21 12 0 2
3 February 28, 2017 vs. Chicago Bulls W 125–107 19 16 10 1 0
4 March 1, 2017 vs. Milwaukee Bucks W 110–98 13 14 10 0 1
5 March 16, 2017 vs. Los Angeles Clippers W 129–114 17 14 10 0 0
6 March 31, 2017 vs. Charlotte Hornets L 114–122 26 13 10 0 0
7 January 18, 2018 vs. Golden State Warriors L 114–124 22 12 11 1 3
8 January 27, 2018 vs. Dallas Mavericks W 91–89 11 16 11 2 0
9 February 1, 2018 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder W 127–124 29 13 14 2 1
10 February 13, 2018 vs. San Antonio Spurs W 117–109 23 13 11 1 0
11 February 15, 2018 vs. Milwaukee Bucks W 134–123 30 15 17 2 1
12 February 23, 2018 vs. San Antonio Spurs W 122–119 28 11 11 0 0
13 March 11, 2018 vs. Sacramento Kings W 130–104 20 11 10 1 2
14 March 15, 2018 vs. Detroit Pistons W 120–113 23 12 10 3 3
15 April 7, 2018 vs. Los Angeles Clippers W 134–115 23 11 11 1 2
16 April 9, 2018 vs. Portland Trail Blazers W 88–82 15 20 11 1 2

Other leagues

Season Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012–13Mega BasketSerbian League510.2.375.500.6672.0.8.2.01.8
2013–141324.2.560.465.6256.03.31.0.510.9
Adriatic League2625.0.519.221.6676.42.0.81.011.5
2014–15Serbian League1427.8.566.275.70810.42.71.11.118.4
Adriatic League2430.5.503.346.6679.33.51.5.915.4

Personal life

Jokić has two older brothers, Nemanja and Strahinja.[60][61] The younger of the two, Nemanja, played college basketball at the University of Detroit Mercy. Both of them are friends with former NBA player Darko Miličić.[62]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jokić, Miljenović nadjačali MZT". b92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Overtime win for Mega, Jokić with index 44!". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Round 1 MVP – Nikola Jokić (Mega Vizura)". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mega Vizura won, Jokić dominated". abaliga.com. 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "MVP: Nikola Jokić (Mega Vizura – val. 40)". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Mega Leks at Szolnoki Olaj Full Statistics". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "ABA: Jokić po treći put MVP". b92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "ABA: Jokić MVP februara". b92.net (in Serbian). BETA. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Mega Leks at Igokea Full Statistics". abaliga.com (in Serbian). Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "MVP: Nikola Jokić (Mega Leks – val. 39)". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Individual Statistics - Season 2014/15". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Regular season MVP – Nikola Jokić (Mega Leks)". abaliga.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Žižić najveća nada" (in Croatian). sportske.jutarnji.hr. 9 March 2016.
  14. ↑ P., V. (9 June 2015). "Jokić ide u Denver". novosti.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. ↑ Carbaugh, Dane (June 26, 2014). "Denver takes Nikola Jokic with the No. 41 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft". SBNation.com. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Nuggets Sign Nikola Jokić". NBA.com. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Parker scores 25, Spurs beat Nuggets for 6th straight". NBA.com. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Mudiay, Gallinari help Nuggets beat Hornets 95-92". NBA.com. January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Nuggets end Raptors' 11-game winning streak, 112-93". NBA.com. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tim Duncan, depleted Spurs fall to Nuggets 102-98". NBA.com. April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Timberwolves' Towns is unanimous Kia Rookie of the Year pick". NBA.com. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Wolves' Towns, Knicks' Porzingis lead 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie teams". NBA.com. May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Lillard hits floater, Blazers beat Nuggets 115-113 in OT". ESPN.com. October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Nikola Jokic 2016-17 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Matthews leads Mavs to rare blowout, 112-92 over Nuggets". ESPN.com. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Jokic has near triple-double as Nuggets beat Mavs 117-107". ESPN.com. December 19, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Nuggets overcome Towns' triple-double to edge Timberwolves". ESPN.com. December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Jokic scores career-high 30, Nuggets beat Magic 125-112". ESPN.com. January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Leonard has 34, Spurs overcome Gasol's injury to top Nuggets". ESPN.com. January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Jokic gets triple-double as Nuggets beat Bucks 121-117". ESPN.com. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Jokic scores career-high 40, Nuggets beat Knicks 131-123". ESPN.com. February 10, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Nuggets tie NBA mark with 24 3s in 132-110 win over Warriors". ESPN.com. February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Jokic has triple-double as Nuggets surge past Bulls, 125-107". ESPN.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Jokic's 2nd straight triple-double leads Nuggets past Bucks". ESPN.com. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Barton scores 35 points, lead Nuggets over Clippers 129-114". ESPN.com. March 16, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Hornets make 17 3-pointers in 122-114 win over Nuggets". ESPN.com. March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Robertson honors Westbrook, but Nuggets top Thunder". ESPN.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Players General Traditional". NBA.com. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  39. ↑ Fedor, Chris (June 26, 2017). "Giannis Antetokounmpo named 2017 NBA Most Improved Player". Cleveland.com. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  40. ↑ "First-Ever NBA Awards on TNT to Include Six Fan-Voted Awards as Part of June 26 Show". Turner.com. April 27, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Jokic scores career-high 41 as Nuggets beat Nets 112-104". ESPN.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Nikola Jokić Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. November 13, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Barton leads Nuggets past Pelicans 117-111 in OT". ESPN.com. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Curry goes off again, Warriors top Nuggets for 5th straight". ESPN.com. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Nuggets make 24 3-pointers, beat Bucks 134-123". ESPN.com. February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  46. ↑ Cato, Tim (February 15, 2018). "Nikola Jokic records triple-double in 14 minutes, fastest in NBA history". SBNation.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Jokic's triple-double leads Nuggets over Spurs, 122-119". ESPN.com. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  48. ↑ "James scores 39 as Cavs beat Nuggets 113-108". ESPN.com. March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Jokic turns in triple-double, Nuggets beat Pistons 120-113". ESPN.com. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Nuggets rally in last minute of 4th, beat Bucks in OT". ESPN.com. April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  51. ↑ "Nikola Jokić Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Nuggets beat Trail Blazers 88-82 for 6th straight win". ESPN.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Butler, Towns lead T-wolves past Nuggets in OT, to playoffs". ESPN.com. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Denver Nuggets Sign Nikola Jokić to Contract Extension". NBA.com. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Nikola Jokic to get five-year, $148 million max deal from Nuggets". ESPN.com. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Nikola JOKIC Player Profile". FIBA.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  57. ↑ "Nikola JOKIC Player Profile". FIBA.com. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  58. ↑ "Rio Olympics 2016: USA beat Serbia in men's basketball to win last gold of Games". BBC Sport. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  59. ↑ "Nikola Jokić Game Finder". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  60. ↑ Timmons, Nate (18 January 2016). "Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic on his brothers talking in stands, "I will not translate you that"". bsndenver.com. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  61. ↑ Lee Jenkins (8 February 2017). "The Joker: Nikola Jokic Gets Serious In Denver". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  62. ↑ "The Joker: Nikola Jokic Gets Serious In Denver". si.com. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
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