Nuggets news: Nikola Jokic an inspiration to Serbian community in Denver

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is a huge inspiration to a Serbian community of about 1,000 people in Denver.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has taken the league by storm. Once an overweight 10-year-old child who cried during basketball practice, he is now putting up double-doubles consistently and astounding with his passing ability and feel for the game.

Jokic is an inspiration to everyone in Denver, but especially to the Serbian community that has grown there. Around 1,000 Serbian people live in Denver, and Jokic has not only made them proud but improved their lives as well.

Per Nick Kosmider of The Athletic, Serbs in Denver are getting much more recognition in everyday life because of Jokic's success on a basketball court. One Serbian citizen explained this by using his son's name as an example:

“My son’s name is Nikola. The name Nikola is important to Serbs because of St. Nicholas, a very important saint in the Orthodox Church. Most people have no idea. They say, ‘Is that a girl’s name? What does it mean?’ For me, having somebody like that with the same name here in Denver, now all of my son’s friends know how to say his name. They say, ‘Oh, you’re just like Nikola Jokic. We get it.’ It’s kind of cool that way. It brings recognition to what Serbians are about.”

It's not only names that have received recognition. Jokic has put his country on the map as well. Denver resident Dan Jankovich explained how he explains his country to people who ask where he is from:

“Everybody here will ask us where we’re from, and we’ll say Serbia. Now we can say, ‘It’s where Nikola Jokic is from,’ and they’ll understand. It feels good for us to have that connection.”

It's mindblowing to think that a 23-year-old man could come to define his entire country for the Serbian residents of Denver. Jokic recognizes this and appreciates it, albeit with a bit of fascination at his own level of superstardom. When asked about the amount of love he receives from the Serbian community, he said:

“I know they are watching me. They stop me in the streets to tell me they watch me and they’re following me. They are waking up and watching our games. It’s a good feeling to know people support you in that way.”

Jokic has the support of an entire community at his back, and the sky is the limit with his talent level. Perhaps one day he can bring a championship back to his city and his people.