"Teaching the next gen right": NBA fans react as Nikola Jokic’s emotional interaction with young fan surfaces
On the court, Nikola Jokic is a fierce competitor—a ruthless savant who wants to win many, many more rings throughout his career. Before tip-off, though, the Joker is willing to show a more lighthearted side to fans who look up to him.
Don't believe it? Here's some photo evidence of nice guy Nikola, posted by Courtside Buzz on Instagram on Friday:
The fan reaction to this emotional moment has been mostly positive. One IG user commented on how Jokic picked up a win by inspiring this young man.
"W Jokic teaching the next gen right"
Another user echoed this sentiment by saying,
"You can make people's life by just being kind! Spread the love to everyone!"
Of course, some witty folks couldn't help themselves and inserted humor into the situation.
"Jokic naming his next horse after that kid"
Nikola Jokic does have a fiery side—just ask his teammates
To be clear, Jokic reserves his hugs before and after Denver's games. From buzzer to buzzer, it's a different story as the three-time MVP stokes his competitive fire by racking up mind-boggling numbers.
This past Thursday, Jokic got his 139th career triple-double after logging 27 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists. Though this stat line came in a 126-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jokic made history by reaching third place in the triple-double list in NBA history.
Having surpassed Lakers legend Magic Johnson with this feat, the Joker now trails just two men en route to the all-time crown. One of them is the great Oscar Robertson and the other one is an active player whom Jokic shares a locker room with, Russell Westbrook.
"The goal is to beat my teammate now," said Jokic shortly after the Nuggets-Cavaliers game.
"Russ, he is the king right now. So, I will need a lot of years, if I ever do it, actually."
If Jokic can place his teammate in his crosshairs, imagine how much more relentless he gets when opposing teams stand in the way between him and his second NBA title. Here's the scariest part: The Joker's math might be a bit off. In particular, that estimation of "a lot of years" might not be accurate after all.
Since 2020-2021, Jokic has averaged 22.3 triple-doubles per season. Assuming that the 29-year-old will keep up this pace in the foreseeable future, Jokic may take just three seasons to shatter Westbrook's record.
Jokic is a stat machine that should not be trifled with. Unless, of course, you're an adoring fan with genuine awe—in which case, the big Serbian would be more than happy to hug you.