Nikola Jokic had his head in his hands after finding out Denver’s championship parade is not until Thursday – before revealing he is eager to get home to Serbia to see his horses.
The Nuggets clinched their first ever NBA title by winning Game 5 against Miami Monday night.
But Jokic was less-than-impressed when told by a Nuggets staff member that the parade is not until later this week.
The Finals MVP told reporters when asked if he’s excited for it: ‘No. I need to go home.’
Jokic is a family man that does not seek out the bright lights and stardom that comes with being a star in the NBA.
In his walk-off interview after clinching his first NBA title, the two-time MVP simply said ‘we can go home now’ in a sign of a man eager to return to Serbia for a break.
He looked crushed when being told he would be going nowhere until at least Thursday evening – and now he has eyes on landing a team plane via owner Josh Kroenke to get him home by Friday.
Speaking to NBA TV he said: ‘On Sundays I have my horse racing!
‘I don’t know when I’m going to arrive? Thursday late? Friday maybe, I don’t know.
‘I’m going to ask Josh to give me a plane.’
Jokic can find himself being unintentionally funny and he got a laugh from reporters when he went to check his phone to see if 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic, who is also Serbian, had text him.
He took a quick scroll before saying, ‘ah f***’.
Jokic then, in disgust, put his head in his hands and said he’s turning his phone off.
There was a period of reflection also on his home country, and how it continues to breed sporting excellence.
‘Sport is something in Serbia that put us in front of everybody,’ Jokic said.
‘Now we have Djokovic, probably the best ever, and now we have an NBA championship.
‘I think it is a very good moment to be a Serbian.’
It wasn’t all deadpan responses from the Nuggets superstar, however, as he revelled in the locker room celebrations.
Jokic and teammate Jamal Murray were seen wrestling near one of the locker room pools as the Serbian center dunked the guard in the water.
For others, it was their moment to spray champagne on teammates and staff and coach Michael Malone was front and center with his ski goggles on to drench his stars as reporters also got soaked.
