Thursday’s parade downtown to commemorate the city’s first NBA title will feature Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. However, the MVP of the NBA Finals will have one question on his mind all day: Will he return to Serbia in time to watch his horses race this weekend?

Jokic, 28, completed an incredible run in the NBA Finals on Monday night, earning him the title of “legendary” player, according to Hall of Famer Isaiah Thomas. Jokic won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in the previous two seasons before leading his team to its first championship this season.

But Jokic repeated telling reporters that he wanted to go home to his stable in his homeland of Sombor, Serbia, to see his horses after Monday night’s 94-89 championship win over the Miami Heat, whether it was a self-assured swagger or a genuine look into what friends refer to as his “lowkey” demeanor.

“I have my horse racing on Sundays,” Jokic said following the match. “I have no idea how I’m going to get here [by the time for the parade on Thursday].”Perhaps this Friday? I’m going to request a plane from [Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke].”

Jokic gave a nearly emotionless response when ESPN’s Lisa Saulters asked him to describe his feelings about finally raising the NBA’s Larry O’Brien trophy: “It’s good.” It’s excellent. We can immediately leave for home because the job is over.”The Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 to win the 2023 NBA Finals.

 

According to The Athletic, “more than half a dozen” horses are kept in a barn waiting for Jokic at home. Jokic is 6 feet 11 inches and 284 pounds, too big to ride horses, but he still has the will to train racehorses and has always loved being around them.

In 2016, he said, “I had two older brothers who played basketball.” According to SLAM Magazine, They made me fall in love with basketball. Every time, we would play together. However, I eventually began to get involved with horse racing. I have a newfound admiration for horses’ grace and beauty. For me, it was much more like a pastime. I didn’t take it seriously. Furthermore, I wasn’t very serious about basketball. I was halfway between the two.

After Monday night’s championship victory, Branislav, his father, told The Associated Press that his son had once considered becoming a horseman rather than a basketball player.

“He began to grow, both in size and height, and he became aware that he could play basketball, but at that time, he had a strong desire,” Branislav remarked. “He would declare, ‘I want to be a horseman, Dad.'” And I used to tell him, “Son, you’ll become a great horseman later; become a basketball player first.”Just moments after winning the record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, Novak Djokovic embraces Tom Brady.

 

While the Nuggets play in different cities throughout the NBA season, Jokic finds time to visit stables across the country.

Jokic has even forged a friendship with Tim Tetrick, a harness racer from New Jersey who is inducted into the Hall of Fame. Tetrick recently revealed to The New York Daily News that when the Nuggets play on the East Coast, Jokic visits him and goes with him to local stables. Tetrick once made his teammates wait three hours for him while he worked with horses.

According to the trainer, the NBA player even texted Tetrick, 41, to inquire about races just before Game 3 of the NBA Finals this year. Tetrick remarked, “I said, you got a game in 30 minutes.”Conor McGregor Punches the Miami Heat Mascot During a Mid-Game Scenario

Simply put, a grounded kind of guy. Tetrick stated to the Daily News, “Lowkey.” “You wouldn’t know that he plays basketball for $40 million a year. Sweaty, he arrives at the barn. He then dons his training outfit and dives in, clearly enjoying himself immensely.

Jokic will need to clear space in his locker since, according to reports, he proudly displays a horse ribbon in front of his MVP awards after taking home the NBA championship and the Finals MVP trophy. In addition, he’ll need to make additional space in his stable at home. He revealed to ESPN’s Malika Andrews that, once the Nuggets won the championship, he intended to purchase another horse.