Where is Nikola Jokic from?

In his 10th NBA season as of 2024, Nikola Jokic, also known as “Joker”, is a center who plays for the Denver Nuggets. Jokic was drafted 41st overall in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and he is often regarded as the greatest ever second round pick in NBA history. Since making his debut in 2014, Jokic has won 3 NBA MVP awards, been named an All-Star 6 times and made it to the All-NBA team 6 times, as of October 2024 (4 times All-NBA First Team 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and twice All-NBA Second Team 2020, 2023).

One of Nikola Jokic's finest moments came when he led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA championship in 2023 and won NBA finals MVP. He holds the highest single-season Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in NBA history at 32.85, as well as the highest single-season player box plus-minus (13.72). As a center, he has recorded the most regular-season triple-doubles, and he also set the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history, achieving it in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds—a feat recognized by the Guinness World Records. In the 2023-24 NBA season, Nikola Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game.

Nikola Jokic Hometown

Nikola Jokić is from the city of Sombor in northern Serbia. Growing up in a modest two-bedroom apartment, Jokić shared the space with his parents, grandmother, and two older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja. Despite the cramped quarters, Jokić found joy in playing basketball from an early age, especially with his brothers, who are nearly a decade older. Both Strahinja and Nemanja also played basketball in Serbia, with Nemanja going on to play college basketball in the United States and professionally in Serbia’s Premier Basketball League.

Jokić’s passion for basketball was influenced by the close bond with his siblings, and his family’s friendship with former NBA player Darko Miličić who offered Jokić an inspiring connection to the sport.

Jokić is also known for his unique fadeaway shot, famously called the “Sombor Shuffle.” This signature move involves Jokić fading back while folding one leg, allowing him to shoot over defenders with remarkable upper-body balance and finesse. This shot added a distinct and unguardable playing style to Joker’s game. Overall, Nikola Jokic’s roots in Sombor, along with the encouragement and influence of his family, played a significant role in shaping him into the NBA star he is today.

Nikola Jokic Serbia Career

Nikola Jokić has represented Serbia in several FIBA competitions. His journey with the Serbian national team began in 2016 at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, where he was named MVP honors as he averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Nikola Jokić led Serbia to a silver medal, where they lost to the United States in the final.

In 2019, Nikola Jokić joined Serbia again for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, but Serbia was unexpectedly eliminated by Argentina in the quarterfinals and finished fifth overall. In 2022’s EuroBasket tournament, Jokić averaged 21.7 points, 10 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals, as Serbia excelled in the group stage with a 5–0 record. However, again an upset was caused by Italy in the Round of 16 to cut short Serbia’s campaign despite Nikola Jokić's 32-point performance.

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nikola Jokić led Serbia to an amazing Olympic record 24-point comeback victory over Australia in the quarterfinals. However, Serbia again lost to the USA in a hard-fought semifinal match. Jokić eventually powered Serbia to a bronze medal in the Paris Olympics by recording only the fifth-ever triple-double in Olympic history against Germany. For his efforts, Jokić was named to the Olympics All-Star Five team, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in Serbian basketball.