Who is Nikola Jokic?

28-year-old Nikola Jokic is a Serbian big man who plays for the Denver Nuggets. The 41st pick in the 2014 Draft is a 2x NBA MVP and 2023 NBA Champion. The father of one is also a devout horse racer, owning over a dozen horses in his home country that compete in professional races.

 Nikola Jokic’s Early Life

Nikola Jokic was born on February 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia. The 'Joker' spent most of his early life in Serbia with his family. Nikola Jokic's father is Branislav Jokic, who is an agricultural engineer. Details about Jokic's mother are not public, so very little is known about her except that Nikola and his two older brothers were raised by their parents and their grandmother in a tiny apartment. The 2x NBA MVP started playing basketball with his brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja Jokic, at a very young age.

While Strahinja played professional basketball in Europe, Nemanja played college basketball in the US. Nikola developed a love for the game of basketball from a very young age, playing with his older brothers. After impressing many playing youth basketball, Jokic started playing in the Serbian professional league in 2012. He graduated high school, but he did not attend college.

 Nikola Jokic’s Wife and Children

Jokic has been in a long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart, Natalija Jokic. Natalija played volleyball for the Florida Seminoles in 2o13. When Nikola Jokic moved to Denver in 2015, she relocated to live with him. The two later tied the knot on October 24th, 2020, in Sombor, their hometown. The couple welcomed their daughter Ognjena Jokic, in September 2021.

The Jokics are a very closely knit and can be seen courtside during most home games. The 6x NBA All-Star is a family man and has multiple practices up his sleeve to drive home the importance of family. Notably, Jokic ties his wedding ring to his sneakers while playing and also has an adorable hand gesture for his daughter who is courtside which relates to one of her favorite songs.

 Nikola Jokic’s Net Worth 2024

Nikola Jokic reportedly has a net worth of around $50 million. The Serbian signed a massive $272 million contract extension with the Denver Nuggets in 2022. With this improved contract, Jokic will earn around $47 million for the current season. So far, the towering center has amassed over $190 million in NBA salary. He also reportedly earns around $750,000 per year from his endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Panini, and Western Union.

Nikola Jokic's Career

Nikola Jokic initially started playing youth basketball with KK Vojvodina Srbijagas. As his performances improved, Jokic gained attention from some of the most popular teams in Serbia. Then in 2012, KK Mega Basket came calling and Jokic signed his first pro contract with the Belgrade-based team. However, he still mostly played for the junior team throughout the 2012-13 season to hone his skills. In the next season, Jokic received more game time from the senior team, grabbing the opportunity with both hands. In 2014, Nikola Jokic declared for the NBA draft.

The Denver Nuggets famously selected the 'Joker' as the 41st overall pick in the second round during a commercial break for 'Taco Bell'. The 6'11" center then returned to KK Mega Basket to continue his development. After another successful year in the Serbian League where he won the Adriatic League MVP Award, Jokic joined the Nuggets to pursue his NBA career in 2015. Jokic's versatility was evident right from the start in his rookie season.

He averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in his first season, playing 80 games and starting 55. The Nuggets' faith in the young star was also clear. Furthermore, his displays earned him a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. From there, Jokic progressed quickly, finishing his second year with 6 triple-doubles (4th highest that year) and a second place in the Most Improved Player race. The next season was when the 'Joker' established himself as a premier threat, recording the fastest triple-double in NBA history.

From 2019 onwards, Jokic has made the All-Star team for five straight years. He then became one of the best players in the league and won back-to-back NBA MVP honors in 2021 and 2022. Though he couldn't win three consecutive regular-season MVPs, Nikola Jokic compensated by winning the 2023 NBA Championship and Finals MVP Award instead. It was the Nuggets' first championship in franchise history. He became only the second player to post a triple-double on his NBA Finals debut. Jokic is also leading the MVP race for the 2023-24 season while breaking into the top 4 on the list of career NBA triple-doubles.

The 6x All-Star has played in 645 regular season NBA games. In 2021, he dropped a regular season high of 50 points against the Sacramento Kings. He has also tallied regular-season highs of 16 assists and 27 rebounds.

Nikola Jokic dropped his playoff high in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals, scoring 53 points in a loss against the Phoenix Suns. He is also the only player in NBA history to have multiple games with 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 10+ assists in the postseason. Jokic has played in 68 playoff games.

Nikola Jokic’s Contracts

Upon his entry to the league, the second-rounder signed a 3-year $4.1 million contract. In 2018, the Denver Nuggets signed Nikola Jokic to a five-year contract extension worth $147 million. During the same, he would win back-to-back regular season MVP Awards and help the team to the Western Conference Finals. He then signed an impressive five-year $272 million contract extension in 2022, which was the most expensive deal at the time it was signed. The much-improved package is expected to earn him an average annual salary of $54 million until 2028, with the last year featuring a player option. In total, including his incentives, the 9-season NBA center has earned $198,124,795 through his contracts.

Nikola Jokic’s Partnerships and Endorsements

Nikola Jokic has secured endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Western Union, Somborac, Panini and 361 Degrees. Even though Jokic has been arguably the best player in the league winning two straight NBA MVP awards, he is yet to have his own signature shoe. Late in 2023, the Serbian star didn't extend his Nike contract and instead signed with Chinese shoe company 361 Degrees. He has also featured in recent ads for 'Hotels.com' alongside his teammate Peyton Watson and his former NBA Finals opponent, Jimmy Butler.

 Nikola Jokic’s Investments

Nikola Jokic invested over $3 million in NFTs. However, the investment didn't pay dividends as their value has plummeted by over 70%. Apart from cryptocurrency, Jokic has also invested in real estate. The 2023 NBA Finals MVP purchased 3 homes for an estimated $12 million, choosing to lease out two of them.

Nikola Jokic’s Records

• First NBA player with at least 10 triple-doubles recorded for 7 straight seasons


• Most triple-doubles in a single postseason


• Third NBA player to record 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 150 assists in a single postseason (after Magic Johnson and LeBron James)


• Third NBA player to record 40 points, 25+ rebounds, and 10 assists in a game (after Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain)


• Fastest triple-double in an NBA game (14 minutes, 33 seconds)


• Only NBA player to tally at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season


• Most assists by a player in their NBA Finals debut (14)


• Second player in NBA history to record a triple-double in their NBA Finals debut (after Jason Kidd)


• Second player in NBA history to record 4 consecutive triple-doubles in the same postseason (after Wilt Chamberlain)


• Most triple-doubles by a center in NBA history

Nikola Jokic's Major Achievements and Awards

• NBA champion (2023)


• NBA Finals MVP (2023)


• 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (2021, 2022)


• 6× NBA All-Star (2019”“2024)


• 3× All-NBA First Team (2019, 2021, 2022)


• 2× All-NBA Second Team (2020, 2023)


• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2016)


• 3× Serbian Player of the Year (2018, 2021, 2022)


• ABA League MVP (2015)


• ABA League Top Prospect (2015)

Nikola Jokic's Charity and Foundation

Nikola Jokic is generous in giving back to the community. His latest act of philanthropy was reportedly for the LuBird's Light Foundation. In 2019, Jokic and Jamal Murray attended a charity ping pong event to raise funds for building accessible playgrounds through the LuBird Foundation. He also made a significant donation to a medical center in his hometown, Sombor to help fight against the coronavirus.

Nikola Jokic’s Shoe Deal

Nike signed Nikola Jokic in 2015 but never created a signature line for the 2x NBA MVP. He wore different sneakers like the Hyperdunk, Zoom Rize and the Nike Air Zoom G.T. Jumps during his stint with Nike. However, in December 2023, the 'Joker' signed a multi-year deal with Chinese footwear brand 361 Degrees. The 21-year-old company has already begun work on Jokic's first signature shoe. In the meantime, the Denver Nuggets star has been taking to the court in the Big3 Future High.

Nikola Jokic's House

Nikola Jokic reportedly owns a $2.4 million mansion in Denver, Colorado. The Serbian purchased the property in 2019 after signing his lucrative contract extension in 2018.  In late 2021, Jokic also purchased a 12,271-square-foot mansion in Cherry Hills, Colorado for $4.5 million. The property includes a 12-seat home theater, a pool house, a gym, and guest apartments. The Joker has also been building a house across 5 plots of land in his native Sombor, Serbia. After signing in the NBA, Jokic also purchased his first expensive horse. By 2024, he owns over a dozen horses that are competing across Europe through Jokic's stable.

 Nikola Jokic’s Rings

Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship in the 2022-23 season. In a 5 game series against the Miami Heat, the 'Joker' averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists to win his first and only NBA ring. He was also awarded the Finals MVP trophy for his historic performance. Jokic tallied at least a double-double in each of the 5 games and recorded 2 triple-doubles during his first NBA Finals series.

Nikola Jokic's Car Collection

Like a lot of popular athletes, Nikola Jokic also owns an impressive car collection. The NBA superstar reportedly has luxury cars such as the Lamborghini Aventador S, Porsche-Mansory Panamera 4S, GMC Yukon Denali, Lamborghini Urus, and the Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63 Brabus 800 SUV. Furthermore, he has also been seen driving a Lamborghini Huracan.

Nikola Jokic's Social Media Accounts

Nikola Jokic is not active on any social media.