Jokić << YOH kich >>, Nikola (1995-…), a Serbian, is one of the most talented players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays center for the Denver Nuggets. Jokić stands 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters) in height. He has become known for his court vision (awareness on the court) and unconventional style of play, which can appear deliberate or awkward. 
Jokić was born on Feb. 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia. He grew up playing basketball with his two older brothers, who had limited success playing university and professional basketball. Jokić also enjoyed racing horses. He was not athletic until he reached his teens. Jokić began playing professionally as a teenager with Mega Leks (also known as Mega Basket), an Adriatic League team based in Belgrade, Serbia. He was selected by the Nuggets as the 41st overall pick in the league’s 2014 NBA draft. He remained in Serbia for another year, however, and won the Adriatic League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2015. Jokić also played for Serbia’s national team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the team won a silver medal. 
Jokić was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team following the 2015-2016 season. He increased his scoring, rebounding, and assist averages during each of the next three seasons. In the 2018-2019 season, he averaged about 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists per game and was named to the All-NBA First Team. He also received his first selection to the All-Star Game. In the 2019-2020 season, Jokić led his team to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. During the 2020-2021 season, he averaged about 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for his play during that season. Jokić won the MVP award again the following season, in which he averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. In 2023, the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat, 4 games to 1, to win their first NBA championship. Jokić won the NBA Finals MVP Award for his play during the series. He averaged about 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists during the 2023-2024 season and won his third MVP award.
