Mike Singer
Completed 06-24-25
★★★★ ☆
This book tells the unique story of Nikola Jokić, from his upbringing in Sombor, Serbia, to his winning the 2023 NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets.
A lifelong Nuggets fan and longtime Jokić fan, I enjoyed this story thoroughly. I loved learning about the upbringing of Jokic and his basketball development in Serbia, reliving the growth of the Denver Nuggets from his draft in 2014 to their championship in 2023, and the insights into Jokic’s persona.
While Jokic projects an aloofness about basketball and all the trappings of being one of its all time greats, he is intensely competitive and hard working behind the scenes, and a beloved leader and teammate.
For instance, Jokić has repeatedly raised the bar for his own physical shape, most notably in 2020 when he lost a lot of weight and took his conditioning to a new level with post game weightlifting.
His seemingly effortless play, unreal shotmaking, and durability reflect years of work behind the scenes
His teammates love him as well - this is illustrated with his mentorship of Peyton Watson, his mind meld with Jamal Murray, his deep bond with Aaron Gordon, and his lighthearted check ins with former Serbian teammates during the high pressure finals run of 2023.
It is also fun to see glimpses into his fun loving nature and impeccable hand eye coordination, exhibited in dominance in Mario Kart, Counter Strike, and Cornhole.
His love for horses also is endearing, as is his longtime loyalty to his wife, family, and hometown.
Jokic was already one of my favorite athletes of all time (if not my favorite), and this book made me a fan of him as a person as well.
