Nikola Jokic is one of the greatest NBA stars we’ve ever seen.
The Serbian is an NBA champion, Finals MVP and three-time MVP and is widely regarded as one of the most unique and versatile big men in the history of the league.
He also happens to be one – if not the – biggest draft steals in NBA history.
Jokic has enjoyed a meteoric, record-breaking rise to the top of The Association that virtually nobody saw coming.
Jokic dropped to the second round of the 2014 NBA draft after spending time honing his craft in the Adriatic League, eventually being selected 41st overall by Denver.
A staggering 40 players were deemed better or more NBA-ready than Jokic at the time, with the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Dante Exum and Elfrid Payton all picked ahead of him.
But it turns out it wasn’t only the pro teams who weren’t particularly interested in him.
Even the TV directors didn’t care too much, with ESPN skipping to a Taco Bell advert as Denver named the Serbian out of KK Mega Basket.
The frankly horrifying fast food advert showed a burrito wrapped inside a quesadilla, earning it the name ‘The Quesarito’.
And as the monstrosity was being wrapped in a less-than-appetising clip, up popped the words ‘CURRENT SELECTION’ next to the Nuggets logo, and then Jokic’s name.
It proved to be an exceptional throwback as Jokic continued to rise to global fame.
However he won’t be able to look back on the draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with any nostalgia, as he was overshadowed by a sandwich.
The sandwich went on to be similarly iconic, remaining on Taco Bell’s menu until 2023, perhaps realising it was finally time to move over.
The Joker has continued to defy the odds throughout his career and is one of the best players in the game today.
The six-time All-Star is a triple-double machine who can score at will and pick out passes like Magic Johnson.
He’s won three MVPs (2021, 2022, 2023) but his greatest achievement so far is delivering Denver its first-ever world title.
His Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in five games in 2023 and Jokic was crowned Finals MVP for the first time in his career.
The 29-year-old finished the Finals averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks, and became the first player in NBA history to lead the entire postseason in total points (600), total rebounds (269) and total assists (186).
Last season was a disappointing one as the defending champion Nuggets were knocked out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Still, Jokic won his third MVP award, beating finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic to become only the ninth player in NBA history to win the award at least three times.
Jokic is an all-time great and future Hall of Famer, but his NBA journey will forever be associated with a Taco Bell commercial.
News Summary:
- Nikola Jokic is an NBA champion and three-time MVP – but was selected by Nuggets during Taco Bell advert in biggest draft steal ever
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