Nikola Jokic: Serbia's Treasured Big Man Of Basketball
28th August 2019
Gordana Ralevic, his English teacher, remembers "little" Jokic as an "excellent" academic student
- Nikola Jokic was always tall -- as a teenager he had to lie down in school photos to fit inside the frame
- Now the 24-year-old Serbian basketball standout is bigger than ever, spanning a huge mural on his former elementary school and living the dream of every youngster as an NBA All-Star with the Denver Nuggets
- With a slightly doughy and lumbering physique, the seven-footer (2.13m) has entranced fans and sports analysts with his uncanny precision, especially laser-sharp passes that have seen him likened to an NFL quarterback on court
SOMBOR, Serbia- Nikola
Jokic was always tall -- as a teenager he had to lie down in school photos to
fit inside the frame.
Now the 24-year-old Serbian basketball standout is bigger
than ever, spanning a huge mural on his former elementary school and living the
dream of every youngster as an NBA All-Star with the Denver Nuggets.
With a slightly doughy and lumbering physique, the
seven-footer (2.13m) has entranced fans and sports analysts with his uncanny
precision, especially laser-sharp passes that have seen him likened to an NFL quarterback
on court.
Serbs are hoping that their homegrown hero -- who did not
play in the 2014 World Cup -- can fire the country at the latest edition, which
starts on Saturday in China. Beaten in the final last time, Serbia are again
among the favourites to challenge holders the United States.
In Jokic's native Sombor, a sleepy northern city where Jokic
returns annually, teachers remember a boy who always had a special knack with
balls, even if physical exercise was not his strong suit.
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"He loved playing with the ball more than anything. On
the other hand, gym and athletics, he did not love... I always had to push him
to do gymnastics," remembers his first physical education teacher, Robert
Katona, from the humble court where Jokic honed his skills.
Gordana Ralevic, his English teacher, remembers
"little" Jokic as an "excellent" academic student.
As a heavier kid "he had problems with physical
education... he really struggled", she told AFP.
"But he fought -- and succeeded, as we can see,"
she adds with a smile.
When the Serbian arrived in Denver as a little-known
second-round pick four years ago he couldn't hold an abdominal plank for more
than 20 seconds, Jokic told ESPN in a recent interview.
He has since been whipped into shape by trainers, shedding
some pounds while still maintaining a bulkier physique.
The work has paid off. Today, Jokic is the Nuggets'
undisputed MVP, drawing praise for his creativity and exceptional statistics,
blending the role of centre and point guard.
In addition to averaging 10.8 rebounds per game this season,
he averaged 7.3 decisive passes and 20.1 points. He further excelled in the
playoffs.
According to his father, basketball was love at first
sight.
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"As a child, with his pacifier in his mouth, he would
watch his brothers play (basketball) without moving, without making a sound,
sitting on my lap," remembers Branislav Jokic, 61, a retired agricultural
engineer.
His gym teacher Katona says Jokic's talent for passing --
the subject of many YouTube highlight reels -- was also evident at a young age.
"Above all he had a tendency to look for the decisive
pass, he liked it more than scoring," he says.
With a contract worth nearly $150 million, Jokic is the
highest paid Serbian player in history.