Is Nikola Jokic the most relatable Serbian man in America?

"No, I need to go home."

On Monday night, the Denver Nuggets won the the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in the organization’s history. The big boys of Colorado performed a gentleman’s sweep against the pipsqueaky Miami Heat and clinched at home (I love when teams clinch at home. I think it’s a little rude when they do it on the road, so props to Denver for being so polite). 

The arena erupted. Heck, the whole state erupted. The Nuggets were at the top of the mountain. They had climbed and summited their own logo. Players were emotional and ecstatic.

But one man looked just about the same as he always does, and that man was the reason the Nuggets were even hoisting a trophy in the first place. That man is a two-time, back-to-back, regular-season MVP, and now he’s added Finals MVP to his resume. That man is the only man to ever lead the playoffs in points, rebounds, and assists.

Mama, there goes that man, Nikola Jokić. 

I can’t figure out how to add a caption to that photo because I’m a thousand years old ^ but it was taken Aaron Ontiveroz for The Denver Post.

Jokić didn’t seem elated, and we’ll get to why that is the whole point of this newsletter in a moment, but first I’d like to set the record straight about something.

Jokić did show some emotion. He did cry. He did spray champagne enthusiastically, he did throw Murray in the pool, he did let his two huge Serbian brothers kiss him on the cheek. He hoisted his daughter amid the falling confetti as she covered her eyes in delight. 

It’s just that Jokić isn’t giving the world what it expects from athletes, which is to act like winning a championship is their only goal in life. Jokić didn’t appear particularly concerned about his “legacy.” He didn’t talk about how he and his team will be back next year. He didn’t say he was out for blood and that this is just the beginning.

Instead, Jokić seemed tired.