Nikola Jokic has become one of the best players in the league after getting selected in the second round by the Denver Nuggets. He is a two-time MVP and is widely considered the best passing big man ever.
There is no doubt that the Denver Nuggets front office was smart to draft Jokic, and he is quite possibly the best 2nd-round pick of all time, notably being the lowest-drafted player to win the MVP award. It is clear that they recognized his talent, but perhaps there was a tiny bit of destiny involved as well.
Nikola Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, has recently shared a story of how Nikola Jokic got gifted a Denver Nuggets sweatshirt when he was a kid in the year 2000. He mentioned that the chances of him having a sweatshirt from the Nuggets back then “were minimal” and claimed that “a little destiny plays a big role in the overall outcome” when referring to Nikola Jokic.
Short story about destiny! This is Nikola Jokic, double NBA MVP, at about five years of age in his hometown of Sombor, Serbia. Back in 2000, when this photo was taken, he is wearing a @nuggets sweatshirt – not because he loved basketball or even knew about the Nuggets – but because he got it as a present. Chances of a kid from a small Serbian town having a sweatshirt from a lesser known American team back in 2000 were minimal (unless we’re talking about famous clubs such as @lakers or @bulls). Chances of anyone knowing about the Nuggets in a small Serbian town were next to nothing. But chances of that same kid growing up to play basketball and achieve his career high, win two MVP titles and sign a historic agreement with the same club whose sweatshirt he wore at age five, were – zero. It is true that winners create their own fate, make the impossible possible and write the pages of history through exceptional dedication, hard work, sacrifice, confidence and willingness to do more than others.
But sometimes, a little destiny plays a big role in the overall outcome.
The Denver Nuggets should be contenders next season under Nikola Jokic’s leadership, especially because Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. should be back and healthy. Jokic notably managed to bring the Denver Nuggets to the 6th seed this year, and the team will only get more dangerous next year.
It remains to be seen if Nikola Jokic can lead the Denver Nuggets to a championship at some point in the future. Many already view him as the greatest Denver Nuggets player ever, and all that he has left to do is win at the highest level with the team. Hopefully, he is able to do so.
