“I haven't read it all, but I've read a good portion of it. There are good stories, yes. Mike did a good job.” It is with his detachment and his natural phlegm that Nikola Jokic spoke about the new book dedicated to him. “Why so Serious?” “, the title fits him rather well, the Serbian pivot acting as a somewhat special character in the closed circle of NBA superstars.
Among his particularities, there is notably the fact that he is not really willing to put himself forward. Former journalist for the “Denver Post”, the author Mike Singer therefore had to work hard to obtain agreement from the inside, also passionate about… equestrian sport. So much so that he first started on his own before asking the Joker to participate.
“We already knew the answer. So I had to show that I was as invested as possible, and that I was willing to take the time necessary.”, said Mike Singerwho has since been hired full-time on the Nuggets staff, within the “Intelligence and Strategy” department.
Who is Nikola Jokic really?
He first moved forward by doing a lot of research, notably by going to the lands of his first exploits in Sombor in Serbia, to meet his friends, his relatives and in particular the coaches who shaped him from a very young age. age, like a certain one, Isidor Rudic, one of his first coaches. Before finally convincing him to give him 30 minutes of exclusive interview, undoubtedly the longest interview ever given by Nikola Jokic! At that time, 60% of the book was already written.
» It was really useful, to know where I was the lightest and thus be able to fill in certain holes. This interview was really great, because for 23 minutes, one of the longest interviews he's ever done, I hadn't asked a question about the player or his MVP titles.”
Behind the public persona, who is Nikola Jokic really? That’s what this book “
| Nikola Jokic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 80 | 22 | 51.2 | 33.3 | 81.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 9.9 |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 73 | 28 | 57.8 | 32.4 | 82.5 | 2.9 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 16.7 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 18.5 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 80 | 31 | 51.1 | 30.7 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 32 | 52.8 | 31.4 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 19.9 |
| 2020-21 ★ | DEN | 72 | 35 | 56.6 | 38.8 | 86.8 | 2.8 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ★ | DEN | 74 | 34 | 58.3 | 33.7 | 81.0 | 2.8 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 69 | 34 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 24.5 |
| 2023-24 ★ | DEN | 79 | 35 | 58.3 | 35.9 | 81.7 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 26.4 |
| 2024-25 | DEN | 17 | 38 | 55.9 | 50.0 | 81.7 | 3.9 | 9.5 | 13.4 | 10.4 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 29.9 |
| Total | 692 | 31 | 55.7 | 35.5 | 82.7 | 2.7 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 7.0 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 21.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
