By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Tennis great Novak Djokovic said that he will try and text Denver Nuggets superstar and fellow Serbian Nikola Jokic ahead of the NBA Finals and that’s what he did.
After the win of the Nuggets over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Jokic talked about the text he got from Djokovic and what it meant to him.
“Yes. Actually, he texted me, for real,” Jokic said with a wide smile. “Yes, he texted me. For real. He didn’t lie. Yes, he’s amazing, of course, in his sport and he’s making history every time. Probably he’s going to go as one of the best ever, if not the best ever. He has a nice opportunity to win another one.”
“He’s just an amazing sport and having him as a countryman that he represents us in the world, I think it’s a great honor, and I think the people of Serbia are really happy that we have him as our countryman,” Jokic added.
The Nuggets are now up 3-1 after leaving Miami with two wins and bouncing back from the loss at home in Game 2. Strangely enough, Jokic didn’t register a triple-double in Game 4, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. He provided some key defensive contributions, having also three steals and three blocks.
It was Aaron Gordon who led the Nuggets in scoring this time. The 28-year-old forward posted 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists, making 11-15 from the field, including 3-4 triples.
“You know, he’s playing a different role, and that’s why he sacrificed himself and that’s why he’s a great teammate, and that’s why he won us the game today,” Jokic said on Gordon’s performance.
“I think if you sacrifice yourself for something bigger than yourself, the team, whatever, he sacrifices himself, and that’s why I think the one upstairs gave him the game today, gave him the game that he had,” Jokic also mentioned. “He was our best player on the floor, and guarding the best player every night, that’s a tough job, and maybe he’s not going to get a lot of credit, but we know what he’s doing for our team, and we’re really thankful for him and we appreciate him a lot.”