Serbian NBA star Nikola Jokic ruled out retirement ahead of a grueling new season. The 29-year-old star helped Serbia win a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics to add to his impressive array of career accolades. Even with the rigorous demands of his position, Jokic promised not to abandon the Denver Nuggets or his national team.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, where the Nuggets are scheduled to play two preseason games, Jokic downplayed comparisons to countryman Novak Djokovic, who is still dominating well into his 37-year-old season. “Not even close,” Jokic said with a smile when asked if he envisioned playing that long. But his competitive juices are still flowing, as he discussed how this busy offseason hasn’t changed his mindset.
Already a three-time NBA MVP and now a reigning champion, Jokic has cemented his legacy in both international and Serbian basketball. His coach, Svetislav Pesic, saluted his character: “Nikola Jokic is a better guy than he is a player.”
Though Jokic may not foresee him playing into his late 30s, his impact on the game is getting larger and larger, placing him as one of the greatest figures the game has ever had.
