Nikola Jokić is excellent at pretty much everything on the basketball court.
But he may not be so good at holding on to important merchandise.
The Serbian superstar was unable to tell ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Wednesday where he had left the Bill Russell Trophy after being named the NBA Finals MVP.
“I really don’t know,” Jokić said. “I left it in Nuggets] equipment manager] Sparky [Gonzales]’s room, and he’s not there anymore. So, I don’t know.”
Fortunately for the Finals MVP and the city of Denver, the trophy — and Jokić — turned up on Thursday for a raucous parade.
Andrews reported that Gonzales prepped the trophy for Thursday’s celebration, cleaning and detailing Jokić’s hardware.
The Denver superstar winning the trophy was essentially a formality once the series concluded.
Jokić, a two-time league MVP, averaged 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists over five games, leading the Nuggets to the franchise’s first-ever championship with a 4-1 triumph over the Miami Heat.
The trophy episode was not Jokić’s first apathetic act after winning the championship.
When reporters asked if he was excited about the championship parade taking place on Thursday, he flatly responded, “No, I need to go home.”
Despite his earlier reluctance to attend the parade, Jokić seemed thrilled to be there on Thursday, appearing jubilant with his wife and child among swarms of adoring fans.
He even spewed a profanity-laced message of support for the parade, which he clearly ended up enjoying.
It’s clear, however, that the Nuggets center’s highest priorities are not in basketball.
“Basketball is not the main thing in my life. It’s something that I’m good at,” he told Andrews.
Following Thursday’s parade, Jokić will be getting closer to doing something he loves — tending to his horses.
He said would have to ask Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke for a plane to ensure he can make it back for horse racing on Sunday.