Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has proven to be an eminently relatable NBA champion, from his earnest desire to return home after reaching the pinnacle of his sport to his frustration with the number of texts inundating his phone after winning it all.
This, however, may be his most relatable move yet.
In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Wednesday, Jokić revealed that he misplaced his Bill Russell trophy, awarded to the NBA Finals MVP, and he does not know where it went.
“I gotta tell you, I’ve done a couple of these NBA Finals MVP interviews, and you’re the first one to come in without the trophy,” Andrews told Jokić.
“I really don’t know,” Jokić replied. “I left it in [equipment manager] Sparky [Gonzales’s] room, and it’s not there anymore. So I don’t know.”
"I really don't know. I left [the Finals MVP trophy] in Sparky [Gonzales's] room and it's not there anymore. So I don't know."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 15, 2023
Nikola Jokic told Malika Andrews that he misplaced the FMVP trophy in the equipment manager's room 😂
(via @malika_andrews)pic.twitter.com/gRDz4KNAcG
Jokić certainly earned the award, averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in Denver’s five-game series victory over the Heat.
However, all it takes is an inability to hold on to a trophy to put one of the world’s foremost athletic talents in a league with those who watch him.
