The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion Why Nikola Jokic, reluctant NBA superstar, is my anti-hero hero

The Denver Nuggets center has otherworldly talent but a wonderfully down-to-earth approach to life.

By
Contributing columnist|
May 6, 2024 at 11:04 a.m. EDT
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Western Conference semifinals in Denver on Saturday. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
5 min

I don’t have a life coach, but I know who I’d want. It would be a pasty, puffy 29-year-old who can’t jump over a four of clubs, wears a $9 haircut and is bored with his job.

He’s the best player in the National Basketball Association and yet seems to rank the sport as about his 10th favorite thing in the world, behind his wife, his kid, his brothers, his buddies, his beer, his horses and not picking up his phone.