Despite being knocked out of the playoffs early, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic isn’t giving up hope. Luka Doncic, one of Jokic’s closest NBA pals, won the Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks and will advance to the NBA Finals. Even though this would be Doncic’s first NBA Finals appearance, Jokic wanted his best friend to be there in 2023. In a recently unearthed video, the Joker wishes the 25-year-old Mavs player a journey to the NBA Finals.
The clip shared by Jeremy Nicolls on X is from the 2023 All-Star Media Day. During his interview with the media, Jokic was asked which team he would like to see win the Finals if the Nuggets failed to qualify. The Joker responded, “If we don’t make it, I mean Luka of course because he’s my… really good friend.” Jokic almost declared Luka his best buddy before calling him a “good friend” for a brief minute.
Fans understand that Jokic is not the most expressive player in the NBA. The Serbian maintains a poker look even when he loses a game or wins an NBA championship. So it’s fair that he’s hesitant to name Luka his best friend, yet the two of them have a strong bond. Despite his friend’s best wishes, the Mavs star failed to make the playoffs, and Jokic went on to win the title.
However, this year’s script is slightly different. Jokic was eliminated from the Semifinals, but Luka advanced to the Finals. Fans also like to suggest that Luka is “avenging” Jokic by defeating the club that eliminated his Nuggets. Aside from that, the Mavericks have been particularly lethal this postseason, defeating some of the top teams to secure a berth in the Finals. With the combo of Luka and Kyrie Irving currently dominating the NBA, perhaps Jokic’s hopes will come true.
Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokić’s friendship
The bromance between Luka and Jokic has been subtle yet significant. Despite their guarded personalities, fans have noticed that they love each other’s company. Over the years, All-Star Weekends have provided an excellent platform for us to witness them bond with one another. Aside from pulling pranks during the 2024 All-Star Weekend, Jokic expressed a desire to team up with his pal.
When asked by a Serbian reporter if he would be open to playing with Luka, the Joker replied, “I’m not sure. It is possible. I do not want to leave Denver. I like it there, and it’s a fantastic organisation. But if Luka becomes upset in Dallas, he can come.” Jokic spoke a lot for someone who, while being a prominent person, rarely expresses himself.
The only difficulty with his wish is that Luka is also extremely content in Dallas. Fans will have to wait until All-Star Weekends to see them have fun together.