Denver Nuggets assistant coach Ogi Stojakovic believes Nikola Jokic’s passion for horses surpasses even his love for basketball, calling it the three-time NBA MVP’s “first love” after witnessing the big man’s devotion to the animals throughout their years together.
Jokic’s deep care for horses has been well-documented and often discussed. He decorates his locker inside Ball Arena with pictures of horses and ribbons from different competitions, a daily reminder of what matters most to him.
Stojakovic has known Jokic for years, dating to their shared history in Serbia. He sees how Jokic is drawn to a horse’s nobility and takes immense pride in caring for the animals.
“Honestly,” Stojakovic said. “I think that’s his first love.”
That devotion became public this summer when Jokic openly cried after his horse, Demon Dell’Est, won a harness racing event in Serbia. The emotional display contrasted sharply with his subdued reaction to winning the 2023 NBA championship.
Jokic bought his first racehorse, Dream Catcher, after his rookie season in 2016. He now owns six horses at his racing operation in Sombor, Serbia.
“If you’re young and you swallow the horse hair, you cannot stop loving them,” Jokic told The Athletic, citing a Serbian saying. “What I like about them is how they run, how they act, how they’re resting, how they’re smelling.”
Teammates have witnessed how horses provide Jokic an escape from the NBA spotlight. Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said the animals bring Jokic a certain level of peace that’s priceless.
“I think he appreciates how beautiful they are,” Gordon said. “There’s something majestic, and there’s something really genuine and pure about horses in general.”
Jokic employs childhood friends to train his horses back home, maintaining connections to his roots. The people of Sombor still see him as the stable boy he was at 13 years old.
“They don’t look at me as an NBA player,” Jokic said. “I have one of my friends who is still training my horses back home. He still sees me as a stable boy.”
Bruce Brown noted Jokic sometimes shows more emotion at races than during games, revealing where his true passion lies.
“I track horses every day,” Jokic said. “It’s a great way to stay off the basketball court, and you’re with friends who don’t care who you are.”
When visitors search for Jokic in Serbia, they know exactly where to look.
“Nikola is usually in his stable with horses,” Stojakovic said. “He feels happy there, satisfied and fulfilled.”