Moments after the Denver Nuggets clinched their first NBA championship, superstar Nikola Jokic has spoken about his desire to skip the victory parade and return to his native Serbia.
Jokic’s wife, Natalija, was struck by a stray beer can during Thursday’s parade. The couple’s 1-year-old daughter, Ognjena, was also on board when the beer can was thrown onto the moving float.
Moments after she was beaten, Natalija was seen clutching her face and mouth as her husband checked to see if she was okay.
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Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic celebrates during the Denver Nuggets Championship Parade on June 15, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
The parade was held just days after the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
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Jokic’s family, teammate Jamal Murray and other special guests rode in his float. Jokic was also accompanied by the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell Trophy.
The Bill Russell Trophy is awarded to the MVP of the NBA Finals. Earlier this week, Jokic admitted that he had lost the coveted trophy.
«I really don’t know,» he said. «I left it on Sparky [Gonzales]’s room, and it is no longer there. So, I don’t know,» Jokic told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview that aired Wednesday. Later that night, Andrews reported that the trophy had been located.
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets celebrate during the 2023 Denver Nuggets Championship Parade on June 15, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Despite the incident with Natalija and the beer can, Jokic seemed to have changed his mind about his feelings about attending the championship parade.
«You know, I said I didn’t want to stay for the parade,» Jokić said as he addressed thousands of Nuggets fans at the parade. «But I fucking want to stay for the parade. This is the best day of my fucking life. This is amazing.»
Nikola Jokic, center, speaks during the Denver Nuggets victory parade and rally at Civic Center Park on June 15, 2023, in Denver, Colorado, after winning the 2023 NBA title. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Nuggets superstar added that the parade would be a treasured memory.
«We’re all going to remember this our whole lives, and when we see you guys out on the streets, this one’s for you. We love you Denver, this one’s for you,» Jokic said.
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Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, dominated during the playoffs. He averaged an impressive 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the NBA Finals.