We all know Nikola Jokic as the MVP big man of the Denver Nuggets. NBA Champion, Finals MVP, seven-time All-Star, he’s done it all. But behind the scenes? He’s a family man whose biggest supporters are his older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja Jokic. The Jokic brothers are passionate, loud, and loyal. And they have been with Nikola every step of the way.

So who exactly are Strahinja and Nemanja? And how did they help shape one of the best players the NBA has ever seen? Let’s break it down.

How many brothers does Nikola Jokic have? Where did they grow up?

The Joker has two older brothers: Strahinja and Nemanja. They grew up close, both literally and figuratively. All three were raised in a small apartment in Sombor, Serbia, along with their parents and grandmother. And family was everything in their home.

“It was my mom, dad, me, my two brothers, and my grandma,” Nikola shared in The Players’ Tribune. “It was always a full house…We were crazy kids. We were making a lot of noise.”

And yes, there was even a mini basketball hoop in the apartment which probably didn’t thrill the downstairs neighbors.

What does Strahinja Jokic do for a living? Was he a professional basketball player?

Strahinja Jokic might not be putting up triple-doubles like his younger brother, but he definitely brings his own kind of energy to the court—just from the sidelines.

Before he became the intense, chair-punching, seat-hopping courtside staple at Nuggets games, Strahinja actually played pro ball himself. From 2019 to 2022, he suited up for KK Zekas ’75 Raca in Serbia’s 1MRL league.

But let’s be real—most fans know him now as the towering Jokic brother who’s not afraid to let his emotions fly during games.

That passion, however, boiled over in a big way during a playoff clash with the Lakers in April 2024. Strahinja found himself in hot water after allegedly punching a fan during a heated moment. He was hit with a misdemeanor assault charge and later pled not guilty in early 2025.

According to Strahinja, he wasn’t just acting out—he claims he was “defending an older man he has known for a long time.”

Who is Nemanja Jokic? Did he play in the NBA?

There were a lot of stops in Nemanja Jokic’s basketball journey. He played college ball in the US, starting off at the University of Detroit Mercy before transferring to Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus. Following his college career, he had a brief stint as a professional with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Steamers. Even that wouldn’t last long as he soon moved back to Serbia. And all this made him realize something.

Basketball wasn’t what mattered the most to him. “I made mistakes,” he said. “When I was young, basketball wasn’t my No. 1 priority,” Nemanja told Sports Illustrated. “Going out, having fun, drinking, girls… that was my No. 1 priority.”  

Recognizing his deficiencies, Nemanja gave up on his basketball career. He retired, having never made it to the NBA. However, despite his own shortcomings, Nemanja always knew his little brother wouldn’t slip up like this after he got to the Nuggets. “He’s an intelligent guy and I’m confident he wouldn’t get off track here,” said Nemanja after Nikola Jokic joined the Denver Nuggets.

After basketball, he found success in MMA. As of 2023, ESPN reported that Nemanja was undefeated in his first three professional fights. But that’s not all. Nemanja is a fighter through and through. So, he’s also competed in amateur Muay Thai tournaments. God help anyone who decides to mess with the Joker and his brothers!

How did Nikola Jokic’s brothers influence his basketball career?

Nikola credits a lot of his early love for basketball to his brothers. “When I was a kid, I just watched my brothers,” he said in his Players’ Tribune essay. “They play basketball, too… I mix a little bit of both of them. One is talented, one is really strong. I’m a little bit talented, and a little bit strong.”

When Nikola joined the Nuggets in 2015, both Strahinja and Nemanja moved to Denver with him to make sure he stayed on the right track. Nemanja told SI. “But… I want him to have the kind of support I didn’t. I always tell him, ‘You’re living my dream. Don’t take it for granted.’”

Their bond runs deep. The brothers have been there for each from those noisy games on outdoor courts in Sombor to the biggest stage in basketball.

From MMA fights to Twitter spats and everything in between, the Jokic brothers may be unconventional. But one thing remains crystal clear: family has always come first. And for Nikola Jokic, that support system might just be the secret to his greatness and the 3 MVP titles he has so far.