Home Basketball Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić: ‘When I finish my career, I really wish nobody knows me’

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić: ‘When I finish my career, I really wish nobody knows me’

Basketball — 04/12/2024

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who spends his summers watching his horses race, is prepared to relinquish his celebrity status once his NBA career comes to an end. 

In a conversation with teammate Michael Porter on Thursday’s episode of his podcast, “Curious Mike” (h/t Awful Announcing), Jokić expressed his feelings about fame, stating, “Being famous, some people like it, some people don’t.” He went on to reveal his desire for anonymity after retiring from basketball, wishing that his children would only remember him as a father. “When I finish my career, I really wish nobody knows me,” Jokić said. “I wish my kid or kids in the future… remember me as a dad. I think that’s gonna be my goal in life.”

Nikola Jokic has 42 points and 12 rebounds, Nuggets beat Wizards 113-104 – Baltimore Sun

“I really dislike this lifestyle because, ultimately, we are just basketball players. We excel at what we do,” Jokić remarked. “However, the media presence is something that surrounds us, and naturally, we earn our livelihood because of the media, because of our popularity.”

This fame often leads to encounters where people “pull out their phones and attempt to record” him in public settings. “I find that behavior quite, I would say, disrespectful,” Jokić stated. “I’m not seeking attention; I’m simply being myself.”

During the off-season, the 28-year-old returns to his native Serbia to focus on his passion project, Dream Catcher, a horse stable he is building. He has expressed his intention to continue this pursuit after retiring from professional basketball. “I adore it,” Jokić affirmed in October, as reported by the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando. “It’s my passion. It provides me with an escape from this world.”

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 23: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on December 23, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

While Jokić’s horses may attract attention in Serbia, it pales in comparison to the spotlight he garnered after leading the Nuggets to their inaugural championship in franchise history. 

With impressive statistics, including averaging 26.5 points, 9.2 assists, and 12.3 rebounds per game through 31 games with the Nuggets, Jokić remains on track for his sixth consecutive All-Star season, ensuring that accolades and attention will continue to follow him.