As the final buzzer sounds on another grueling NBA season, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić isn’t dreaming of beaches or luxury getaways. Instead, his heart is set on a quiet life far from the flashing lights of arenas and postgame interviews. His destination? The rolling countryside of Serbia — and more specifically, the stables where his beloved horses await.
For Jokić, basketball may be his career, but horses are his lifelong passion. The reigning NBA MVP and one of the league’s most dominant forces finds peace not on the hardwood, but among the paddocks and pastures back home. In interviews throughout his career, he’s made no secret of where his heart truly lies.
“There is something special about being with horses,” Jokić once said. “It’s the one place where I feel completely at ease. They don’t care who I am in the NBA. They just know me.”
From the Court to the Stables
Reports indicate that Jokić is already looking forward to the offseason as an opportunity to reconnect with his roots. After another deep playoff run with the Nuggets, he plans to spend a significant portion of his summer in Sombor, Serbia, his hometown, where he owns several horses and is a familiar figure at local racing events.
His passion isn’t just casual. Jokić has been deeply involved in trotting — a form of harness racing — and even participates in amateur events. Friends and local media describe him as just another horseman at the track, cleaning stables, training his horses, and cheering on his favorites with the same quiet intensity he brings to basketball.
It’s this down-to-earth quality that endears Jokić to fans both in Serbia and across the NBA. Despite his global fame and enormous success, he remains deeply connected to his humble upbringing and the simple joys that first shaped him.
A Mental Reset
While many athletes use the offseason for rest and rehabilitation, Jokić uses his time with horses as a mental reset. The serenity of the stables stands in sharp contrast to the chaos of the NBA schedule — and it’s that balance that many believe contributes to his consistency and calm demeanor on the court.
His teammates and coaches often speak of Jokić’s unique ability to stay composed in the most high-pressure moments. Perhaps it’s the hours spent in peaceful silence with animals that helps him maintain such emotional equilibrium.
