NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets

Media Day

Q. Nikola, first NBA Finals. Congratulations.

NIKOLA JOKIC: Thank you.

Q. What do you remember when you were a kid, teenager, what was the NBA Finals matchup that you saw that really affected you, that said, Man, I want to do that one day?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I don't even know. Back in the days, I don't remember to be honest. Maybe I remember when Dallas won the championship, Miami. I remember San Antonio winning it. But then, to be honest, I don't even remember the opponents.

It was Miami-San Antonio, right, in Miami when Ray Allen hit that big shot? I remember that one. To be honest, I don't remember. I remember recently when I got in the league, but I don't remember when I was growing up because it was a really hard to follow, to be honest, first. Then I was not really -- I was following your league and your basketball.

Q. When you were a kid, on the blacktop, did you pretend in the driveway that you were taking that last shot to win a championship?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Of course. I think everybody did that. Even Cody [Wise] probably did that. Three, two, one, trying to make a shot. Everybody did that probably in the life [smiling].

Q. What stands out to you about the matchup with Bam? What do you see when you see him play, how that challenge is going to be in this series?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think it's not Bam against me or whatever, whoever. It's Denver against Miami. Just because I think we kind of have a similar play style, we are getting everybody involved. We like to play team basketball.

It's not going to be me against him or anybody against anybody. It's going to be a Miami against a Denver. I think that's why it's going to be interesting.

Q. You come from the same hometown (Sombor) as Radivoj Korac in Serbia. Do you feel you're representing this culture of what was Yugoslavia, now Serbia?

NIKOLA JOKIC: To be honest, I think I cannot say that, but someone who is older can, who remembers, just knowing them or watching them play.

But yes, Radivoj Korac is from my hometown, but I don't know, can really be compared or whatever. I think that's somebody older who remembers them, who did something probably in the basketball in Yugoslavia or Serbia or whatever.

But that's a good question. Thank you.

Q. Coach keeps comparing you to Tim Duncan, your unselfishness. How much did you look up to Tim when you were growing up? Did you actually pinpoint that selfishness and say I want to model my game after that?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Model my game probably, yes, yes. Probably he's one of the best power forward players that play the game. He did with such a ease, it's really, really -- I remember when he play against me, he was little bit older, but he still gave me the easiest 20 points ever in life probably. He always had a counter, but he was so patient. I think he's a great player to look up to, to model your game to him.

Q. How was the wait for you and the team to get to know your rival? Was this an advantage or a disadvantage for you?

NIKOLA JOKIC: We going to see tomorrow [smiling].

But, yes, we were waiting. I think we took a good, professional approach to those eight days, nine days, 10 days, whatever it was. Just because it's actually long break, you know, I think we did a good job. We stay in the shape getting ready, staying sharp, but still get enough rest.

But about the opponent we going to see tomorrow, is that true or I'm lying.

Q. You got an opportunity to meet the other Nikola [Jovic] in this series I guess earlier this season. What did it mean to you that that meant so much to him, a chance to interact with you, have dinner with you? What do you know about his game? Was there any wisdom you tried to share with him?

NIKOLA JOKIC: He was playing in the same team that I played back in Serbia. One of his coaches was my Godfather who work there. He told me I think year before he's going to get drafted that he's actually really good player, really good person, that he's really working hard, can have a talent to be NBA player.

So, I know him before I actually met him little bit. I never watch him play, to be honest. Just little highlights, but never like a full game, whatever.

But he needs to say that. What’s he's going to say? I don't want to meet him [smiling]. Yes, good guy, good person. I saw he's getting bigger, so we're going to see if he's going to get opportunity to play. But I believe he will. He has a lot to offer.

Q. I've asked you through the years about being the best player on this team, you've always resisted that label even through the MVP years. Do you feel like being the best player in a superstar league if that matters in basketball or do you feel it doesn't matter because of how you look at the game, being the best player?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I'm confused.

Q. Do you feel you're the best player on the Nuggets?

NIKOLA JOKIC: It's hard to say because sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not. I'm cool with that. I think everybody else are good with that.

I think the way how he play, everybody can step up, everybody can be a best player in one game or whatever, week, whatever.

I don't know. I don't know, can I say myself as the best. The ball is in my hands a lot, so I make a lot of decisions. But I don't know if can be the best player.

Q. Throughout the year, especially in the Playoffs, you guys are picked by the media as an underdog. How do you feel now that you're the favorite to win the Finals, what that change for you?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Who said that we are favorites? The media?

Q. Las Vegas.

NIKOLA JOKIC: Las Vegas tell us that we were underdog before. That doesn't... It's not correct, I think.

I think we are not the favorite. I think in the Finals there is no favorites. This is going to be the hardest game of our life, and we know that. We are prepared for that. We are prepared for that.

So, I think there is no favorites. Definitely I think we are not favorites in this series. I think they're not either. I think it's just the Finals. There is no favorites in the Finals, in my opinion.

Q. It looked like you were out on the court joking around a little bit. I think I even saw you give a middle finger to one of your teammates. How much fun is this stage for you? I know you don't really like the attention, but it seems like you're embracing it?

NIKOLA JOKIC: No, it was just a competition game. Bigs against the small. I think we won it in the end. That's why I... To be honest, I do that every time, when we win, of course. Just talk trash a little bit. Why not?

Q. Jamal was talking about how you've seen every defense and handled every wrinkle that's come your way. If Miami throws a zone at you, how does that impact your decision-making, how does that affect your hand-offs to Jamal and your passing lanes?

NIKOLA JOKIC: You're going to see tomorrow.

But we saw the zone. Definitely we didn't see this kind of zone because they are switching zones and they're really, really messing up the game in their favor. We just need to be focused and solid in what we are doing because that's why they are great, that's why they are winning, that's why they're in the Finals. They're messing the game in their way, and they're doing that really good.

I don't know how it's going to affect me. We see tomorrow. Maybe going to have 10 turnovers, maybe going to have 10 points. We will see. Other assists.

Thank you, guys.