Nikola Jokic reveals he could have joined Barcelona before going to NBA / News - Basketnews.com
Nikola Jokic said Barca wanted to wait a little bit more after they saw him have a bad game. That's when the Denver Nuggets stepped in and the rest was history.
Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - ScanpixNikola Jokic is a two-time NBA MVP and a popular candidate to with it for the third time. He now says there was a chance he could've never gotten to the NBA at all.
Nikola Jokic
MIN:33.6PTS:24.73 (68.78%)REB:11.45As:10.1ST:1.27BL:0.71TO:3.55GM:51ProfileNBA2022/2023In fact, there was a significant chance of him joining FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague but it never materialized.
"It was a long time ago. I didn't have a very good game. Actually, I think I had my worst game ever," the Joker told Toni Canyameras from Mundo Deportivo when asked to tell the story. "How the story was told to me, Barcelona stood by and waited a little bit."
"I was 18 or 19 at that time. They just wanted to wait for a couple of months and then the Denver Nuggets showed up. Now I'm here," Jokic said with a smile.
Asked whether he would like to come back and play in Europe at some point in his career, Jokic was straightforward.
"I'm not sure I'd like to go back to Europe. I like it here," he said.
Jokic started his professional career in Mega MIS Belgrade and was famously drafted with the 41st overall pick during a Taco Bell commercial by the Denver Nuggets in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The now-famous moment of Jokic getting drafted during a commercial:
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.Link to this article:https://www.brazilv.com/post/9842.html