A story behind a photo of 3-year-old Nikola Jokic: 'Ball already stuck to his hand' / News - Basketnews.com

Serbian basketball player Marko Popadic revealed the background behind his picture with a 3-year-old Nikola Jokic, sharing his memories about Jokic's brothers Nemanja and Strahinja.

Credit: Marko Popadic, RTS Credit Marko Popadic, RTS

Serbian basketball player Marko Popadic, impressed by the new boundaries that Nikola Jokic setts in the NBA, shared a childhood photo of them together.

Nikola Jokic

MIN:34.61PTS:25.46 (66.67%)REB:12.1As:9.9ST:1.24BL:0.71TO:3.57GM:84ProfileNBA2022/2023

A 3-year-old Nikola Jokic and a 6-year-old Marko Popadic, a former member of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade youth teams, share a ball. In a period when the media competes for Nikola's childhood photos, this one represents a new jewel.

Popadic shared the story with Filip Rodic from Serbian National Broadcasting Channel (RTS) about how the photo was taken, where he came to know the Jokic family, and when the youngest of the three brothers was first heard of in basketball circles.

The Denver Nuggets reached their first NBA Finals appearance after Jokic carried them on his back.

The story of the chubby kid from Sombor, a horse lover gifted at hoops, is at the center of the attention of the American public more than ever.

From a pudgy little boy to a two-time NBA MVP and perhaps the best player in the world at the moment, Nikola confirms from game to game what a phenomenon he is in modern basketball.

Jokic's status on Facebook, 'Anyone for pickup game,' and funny childhood pics have become viral on social networks and are used through memes - making creative jokes about his excellent games and the helplessness of defeated rivals.

Nikola grew up in a basketball family, with his father and older brothers Strahinja and Nemanja, as evidenced by a photo from way back in 1998, posted by Serbian basketball player Marko Popadić on his Instagram.

The former basketball player of Red Star posted this photo of him sharing the ball with a 3-year-old Nikola back in 2019 when the Joker burst into the top five of the NBA and hinted at dominance in the coming years.

2-pointers this season

57%31,7Points made:31,7Accuracy:57,1%Place in standings:5Record max:50Record min:22Most made 2FGs:Nikola JokicTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

It can be said that already in the photo, you can see how the ball sticks to his hands, as it does on rebounds.

"The picture was taken in 1998 in 'Mostonga' hall in Sombor," Popadic told Filip Rodic from RTS. "I lived with my parents in Sombor from 1995 to 1999 because my mother Vesna played handball for Sombor Dunav, and my father Misa was Strahinja's coach in the cadet youth selection of BC Sombor. We constantly watched their games and waited for halftime to run out onto the field."

Marko evokes memories of the period when Nikola's eldest brother Strahinja played in lower leagues club from his hometown Kovin in the 2000-01 season, and he also mentions Nemanja's cheerful character while hanging out in Sombor.

"I remember Nemanja was always smiling, and Strahinja was always big and strong. At first glance, Strahinja became my favorite basketball player from my father's team when I was little," Popadic pointed out.

"Later, after moving to Kovin, Strahinja came to play in the senior league with my father in the 2000-01 season. I remember being overjoyed by his arrival," he added.

While Marko was building his basketball path in the younger categories of Crvena Zvezda, in Sombor, the third Jokic was learning his first basketball steps and weighing whether he would switch to equestrian sports.

It's been 14 years since their photo, and Nikola makes her debut for Mega. In Serbian basketball circles, it was widely known that this boy would be a miracle.

"I accidentally found the photo in the family album. It has long been known about Nikola, since his junior days, that he is a prodigy. I am not surprised by his game because following him all these years, there are no limits for him," said Popadic, who played in Italy, Spain, Greece, Hungary, and Slovenia throughout his career.

Marko Popadic took his first pro steps in the Crvena Zvezda jersey.

"I made my debut in the 2006-07 season under coach Dragan Sakota. In that team there were Milan Gurovic, Pero Antic, Vuk Radivojevic, Tadija Dragicevic, Nenad Misanovic... An incredible experience! I still remember some training sessions, trips, matches, derbies against Partizan," Popadic recalled.

He also revealed what motivates him to wake up early in the morning to watch the Nuggets games.

"I follow the playoffs regularly, and whenever I have a hard time waking up, I remember that I will see something new from Nikola, which wakes me up in a second. I love his simplicity, unpredictability, and the impact he has on basketball in general," says Popadic.

A man who grew up with Sasha Djordjevic, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Dejan Bodiroga and played with Milan Gurovic claims that Jokic is a player-artist on the field.

"I would like him to win a ring, and I am convinced he will because I don't see who will stop him. With due respect to all our former and current basketball players, Nikola is the most beautiful thing to watch. It is art!" Popadic concluded.

Popadic, like the whole of Serbia, will follow Nikola's new journey to the ring. Four more wins, and the Denver Nuggets are the new NBA champions.

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