Nikola Joki’s daughter is his staunchest supporter.
This season, the Denver Nuggets center has made headlines for his NBA records, but it’s his little girl who has grabbed the show.
The Serbian basketball player and his wife Natalija, who is also from Sombor, Serbia, have a one-year-old daughter named Ognjena.
Nikola and Natalija met in high school and have been dating since they were 17 years old. They will marry in their hometown in October 2020, followed by the birth of their daughter a year later.
Though the couple has kept their family life relatively secret, they have provided adorable peeks of their newborn girl since her birth. In addition to Natalija’s Instagram photos, Ognjena has attended a number of her father’s games.
She most recently supported her father as his team defeated the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship.
Everything you need to know about Nikola’s daughter is right here.
She was born in the month of September 2021
Nikola and Natalija hid their pregnancy until their daughter was born in September 2021. Natalija revealed the news on New Year’s Day 2022 by posting a photo from her baby shower on Instagram with the caption: “Thank you 2021, you were my favorite so far.”
In May 2022, she made her Instagram debut.
Natalija revealed the first photo of her daughter, Ognjena, a few months after announcing her pregnancy on May 27. Ognjena was wearing a pink dress as she touched Nikola’s MVP trophy in the shot.
Her given name means “fire”
Ognjena’s name pays homage to Nikola and Natalija’s ancestors. Her name means “fiery” in Serbian.
She has accompanied her father to numerous sporting events.
Ognjena has attended several of her father’s games since making her Instagram debut in May 2022. Natalija posted a photo on Instagram in March 2023 of Ognjena holding Nikola’s game ball from his 100th triple-double.
Bleacher Report got a lovely video of Ognjena pointing to her ring finger after a game in May 2023, ostensibly reflecting her father’s quest for his first league championship. In the video, he can be seen making the same adorable move.
“I think all of us who have a wife and kids should be happy with the people we have beside us,” Nikola said of having his family’s support at games to Serbia’s Arena TV. “When you have a normal life, it lifts you up and only helps you.”
She attended the 2023 NBA Finals.
Ognjena was by her father’s side when the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship on June 12, 2023. He also brought his daughter onto the floor to accept the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy.