Associated Press Jun 18 2023 2:12pm ET2 minute read
SOMBOR, Serbia — Less than a week after leading the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship, Nikola Jokic was back in his hometown of Sombor on Sunday to pursue his passion, horse racing.
Thousands of his supporters in the normally sleepy northern Serbian town of about 47,000 people also gathered at the local racecourse, where Jokic watched his family’s horses trot races. Many wore t-shirts with Jokic’s portrait on them, and some read ‘Be the Next Champion’ and ‘Sombor, the Town of Champions’.
A billboard reading ‘Welcome Home MVP’ showed Jokic wearing his No. 15 Nuggets jersey and also featured galloping horses.
After winning the NBA title, Jokic worried about returning home in time for Sunday’s races after the team’s victory parade in Denver on Thursday. He joked that he would ask Nuggets president Josh Kroenke to loan him the team plane to make sure he got there on time.
This was a special day for Sombor Hippodrome. The beer and barbecue stands were in full swing, as was the party mood and the people waiting in long queues for visitors.
Jokic was late to the track, followed by local media. Notoriously shy and laconic, he was not in the mood for conversation and declined to speak to journalists, whom he walked past on entering the circuit.
From time to time he would appear in the stands amidst his family and friends, watch every race that his family’s stable took part in, and then disappear out of sight. He was accompanied by his wife and daughter, brother, father and friends.
The crowd erupted in applause and joy when Jokic first appeared. He wore a polo shirt that said “Dream Catcher” after the name of the first horse he bought years ago.
His father Branislav said Jokic will not answer any questions from reporters.
“He said to me: ‘Dad, I’ve had enough of the publicity in the last few days,'” said Branislav Jokic. “And I believe him.”
Jokic developed a strong passion for horses and horse racing in his youth, which almost put him off basketball as a kid, his father said.
Denver clinched the NBA title Monday with a 94-89 win over the Miami Heat, with Jokic scoring 28 points and 16 rebounds and earning the NBA Finals MVP trophy.
Jokic, nicknamed “Joker” by his fans, put on a historic playoff performance. He became the first player to lead the league in total points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single postseason.