Nikola Jokic: Shoe deal (finally!) & love for horses

Nikola Jokic: Shoe deal (finally!) & love for horses

Denver Nuggets leader Nicola yic talks about his love for horses and about his shoe deal with the Chinese company 361 degrees Nia how proud are you to have a signature Sho line coming up what went into the decision of picking 361 did Aaron Gordon influence a little bit he

Influence a lot uh I mean they were they really they really uh direct with me and they were really honest and I talked to a about everything and they said he said to me they’re really good and they’re really quick and they really listen to you so I’m I’m really happy with the

Relationship right now that I have with them OU I don’t even know how long it is but they’re they’re really they’re really trying to make the shoes as much comfortable as as and they’re they’re asking me every after every practice after every game so I really like the

Communication that we have right now and how was yesterday youngers Raceway can you tell us about your love for horses and how much this relationship with horses impact your life and maybe helps you uh balance personal and professional life yes I mean yes of course uh I’m

That’s my love last 15 16 years I don’t even know um I love it it’s uh it’s something that keeps me keeps me busy and um you know it’s only Horsemen I think I can can understand that so and I have a friends here and they always

Treat me good and they was call me to see the races so I love to I love to see the races I love to see the horses I love to see the people around the horses so it was it was a good good evening for me we celebrated the first ever World

Basketball day can you comment on the power of basketball of transcending uh borders and United cultures I mean you can see basketball being playing on every every country every every possible spot in the world you know so it’s something that uh it’s a lang you know you don’t need to speak

The language but when you play basketball everybody understand you know so it’s a great Sport and uh makes a lot of people happy

Nikola Jokic is excited about his decision to ditch Nike and sign a multi-year contract with the Chinese brand 361 Degrees, joining teammate Aaron Gordon and giving the Xiamen giant – one of the most influential sportswear companies in China – a distinct NBA face with the Denver Nuggets’ seal.

“AG influenced me a lot in this choice; he told me they are excellent shoes, fast, and they respond to your body,” Jokic told Valeria Rubino.

The reigning champion, last summer’s Finals MVP, and two-time Regular Season Most Valuable Player has played his entire career with Nike. Despite being one of the most dominant players in the American league, he was the only MVP in the last 16 years without his own sneaker line. It had not happened since 2007 with German MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Despite a brief campaign titled “no joke” released immediately after the 2023 finals, dedicated to the unexpected rise of a “Serbian guy” to the title of world basketball deity and his crucial role in the championship victory, Nike did not extensively use Nikola’s image.

The Chinese brand seized the opportunity and is trying to tailor sneakers to Jokic’s every need, seeking feedback after each training session or game to maximize comfort and efficiency.

While the Nuggets’ star is very reserved and dislikes the limelight, he recently starred in a commercial for Hotels.com. This may mark a trend reversal to further grow his name and fan base, perhaps anticipating the launch of his own shoe line.

Jokic seems to have found a perfect balance between private and professional life, often carving out time for his passions, especially his love for horses.

The night before his game in Brooklyn, the 28-year-old center was seen at Yonkers Raceway, a racetrack 40 minutes from New York City, attending a horse race despite the cold temperature. We remember his bored response at the June NBA Finals press conference when he realized that the parade to celebrate the Nuggets’ victory coincided with the days of his horses’ races in Europe. Passion cannot be controlled, and that’s beautiful.

“Horses have been my love for the last 15-16 years. I adore them… maybe only horsemen can understand,” he commented.

He also had kind words for the other passion that made him a champion: basketball, of course, a sport that transcends boundaries and unites diverse cultures, “making many people happy.”

“There’s no need to speak the same language; when you play basketball, you understand each other anyway,” said the gentle giant.