Student Jović became friends with Master Jokić

When reading their surnames, it is not uncommon to get them wrong or confused. Even to undergo a few pranks, which one more or less appreciates…

« I used to have a lot, but not anymore » he admits exactly Nikola Jovic and no Nikola Jokic. « I got really bored from the second year onwards and then it calmed down. I don’t even remember anymore. I actually heard a fan yell at me recently, ‘You want to be Jokic’, but other than that there aren’t many anymore. »

On the floor, however, it’s hard to get it wrong. On the one hand, Nikola Jovic is a young player in the rotation who plays on the wing Miami. On the other hand, Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP who plays pivot Denver. Together, however, they helped Serbia to win a bronze medal during the 2024 Olympics.

The starting point of their friendship, strengthened a few weeks ago at the Eurobasket, despite the collective failure : « I can say that he is now a very good friend of mine » reveals Nikola Jović. ” I am happy that I was able to meet him and that I had the opportunity to play with him. »

Jokic wanted Jovic in Denver!

Basically, like that night in Denver, Nikola Jović and Nikola Jokić are opponents in any case. And the older (age 30) of the two even enjoys dominating the younger (age 22), who ” they can’t take it anymore » to have regular bowel movements.

But when they play together in the selection, there are many lessons for the player Heat : « Just the way basketball should be played » evades Nikola Jović when asked what he learned from different experiences alongside Nikola Jokić. ” He is so smart. So smart, so dedicated, and so hard working. I think he sees basketball as a job, just a job really, and that’s something I learned from him. You have to do whatever it takes to perform at the highest level and I don’t see it as just a job, because I really love this sport, I love playing. But maybe sometimes it’s important to look at it simply as a job… »

Except for two matches per season (not counting the NBA finals, like in 2023…), the two Serbs never miss giving each other news or congratulating each other. Especially when you couple the XSL performance with Nuggetsor when another raises a nice contract extension in miami…

« We talk about a lot of things, but recently he’s been mostly upset because I signed an extension and because he wanted me in Denver… » laughs Nikola Jović, who missed Nikola Jokic before the 2022 draft. « But yes, we talk, nothing crazy, but we take care to stay in touch, to support each other, because there are not many Serbs in the NBA. »