This is how Djokovic inspired Jokic for his third MVP

Serbia didn’t even reach the 7 million inhabitants and those born in the 80s and the 90s had to go through the agony of death in one way or another. Balkan War. But, hardened by its fierce competition in the Balkans, and perhaps because the punishments also hardened the generation of those times, Serbia’s exemplary and endless sports school forged two. number 1 in basketball and tennis who reached the top to stay and mark an era, the two ‘Jokers’: Nikola Jokic (Belgrade, 1995) and Novak Djokovic (Sombor, 1987).

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When asked about this fact by MD, Jokic was carried away by the admiration of his “peer” in tennis, although it would be better to say “almost” the same, because while the Nuggets center remains the current MVP despite the fact that Joel Embiid was hot on his heels to lose him a third in a row, Djokovic gave up his number 1 to Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday after the Murcian was crowned in Indian Wells.

“He is an ambassador of Serbia. The whole world knows Serbia because of him. May amazing work ethic. His mind is probably the best in the world, he controls his body and his concentration is amazing”, replied Jokic about his compatriot as well as his idol, highlighting a virtue, the mental strength , of which Nadal is generally considered the best.

An admiration that was mutual, because in 2021, when the Nuggets center won his first MVPNovak Djokovic has a very special detail on him at the moment it was announced: he trained with a Nuggets shirt of his compatriot when preparing for the semifinal against Rafael Nadal and also sent him a message: “MVP! MVP!”, the Belgrade tennis player began by saying.

“This is for my friend Nikola Jokic, the ‘Joker’. Congratulations on your MVP. Worthy. I am sending you beautiful memories from Paris, Roland Garros. I will wear you today in training (referring to the jersey) and I hope to bring you luck in the playoffs,” said Djokovic.

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Even the center did not have the best luck – the Nuggets fell to phoenix suns no options (4-0)-, ‘Nole’ had all the options in the world, benefiting from the kind of ‘talisman effect’ of his compatriot’s jacket, when he defeated Nadal the following day in the semifinal (3-6, 6 -3, 7-6 and 6-2) to lift his second Musketeers Cup final after lifting two sets against Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4). 2021 was the only time Nadal lost in the semifinals of Roland Garros.

The relationship between the two is incredible and a year ago, in June 2020, they met at an exhibition basketball game in Belgrade that they witnessed together. Only after the most difficult period of confinement in the middle of the pandemic, both tested positive for COVID-19 days after the meeting, received some criticism for not following social distancing or wearing a mask. Djokovic continues and continues to monopolize the controversy on the coronavirus, because he is still not vaccinated, which will prevent him from being included in the Miami Masters, making it difficult for him to regain the number 1.

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“I have nothing bad to say about him. I am happy that he is from my country and that he represents Serbia in the right way”, Jokic also said about Djokovic, without mentioning the vaccine issue. “If Jokic isn’t the MVP, it’s not normal, because he’s the best. His basketball IQ is good Great boy, very humble”, said the tennis player from Belgrade, where the Nuggets center also grew up playing, who played in Mega Vizura from the Serbian capital before leaving for the NBA once Denver got ahead of Barça.

Same nickname: the ‘Joker’. Because?

Jokic and Djokovic share the same nationality, have long shared number 1 status and share the same nickname: the ‘Joker’. However, the reasons are very different. In the case of the tennis player, he was given this ‘nick’ for his spontaneous and witty personality, known for his hilarious imitations of other players like himself. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova.

On the other hand, the center is known for its allyMike Miller He started calling her without knowing how to say her last name. But the reigning MVP also has a funny side, his reaction went viral when he said his triple-double average or other curious anecdotes such as the weekend he had a five-hour “marathon” watching. ‘Pokémon’.

Both also ‘hardened’ under the brutality of war, recounting their experiences in interviews, Jokic recounted what it was like to hear the noise of sirens and bombs from indoors like hearing birds singing and Djokovic explaining moments like queuing to get food.

However, the place they may occupy in history is very different. In the number of Grand Slams -now he has 22, tied with Nadal-, ‘Nole’, from 35 years, has a chance to become the greatest of all time, a very difficult honor for Jokic. As revolutionary as he was in influencing the game of the NBA with his sheer talent and virtue, and as many MVPs as he could get – he could match up to Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird As the only player with three straight MVPs this year, Michael Jordan and others in the discussion of ‘The GOAT’ like LeBron James seem to be absent at all.

their 28 yearsJokic has yet to get any rings and should think about lifting the title as soon as possible to avoid being part of the ‘frustrated’ club of stars who have never kissed Larry O’Brien and this includes John Stockton, Charles Barkley or Allen Iverson. In any case, both Nikola Jokic and Novak Djokovic deliver the same impressive impression despite their age difference: they will play and be the best – or aspire to be when they are not – as long as they want. War boys became masters of their sport.