NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 15, 2025

Nikola Jokic

Chuck's Global Stars

Media Day Press Conference

Q. The gap between the world and the USA has been shrinking rapidly. Adam Silver mentioned the possibility of you guys playing against the USA. How do you see that dynamic and what do you think the outcome will be?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Well, we were close, but we lost two games in preparation. I think USA is a team, they cannot lose because everybody wants to beat them, and every other team, including myself, including Serbia, we wanted to beat them, and we're playing probably the best basketball that we can in that moment.

I think European players, you can see that they can -- USA has more talented players than the rest of the world. Europe and the rest of the world has talented players, I think, but the majority of the players are coming from USA.

Q. Obviously you've been MVP a bunch of times, you've been a champion, but the stats say this might be your best season yet. How do you find ways to keep getting better?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think just by experience, by just knowing -- probably staying in shape is the first, staying ready, staying in shape, taking care of your body is probably the first and most important thing.

Playing more, experience. I think teammates help me a lot with that. They always push me to that, I'm going to say, bright spot, and the team, as the Nuggets, we are playing really good the last seven years.

I think every year we're kind of maybe playing even better. This year the beginning of the season was not so good, but now we are playing really good.

I think it's just consistency probably is the word.

Q. What do you think about Chuck taking you first overall?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I really don't know. I think it shows respect and I'm really thankful, but I don't know. I think I'm not built for this game, for this kind of game.

Q. You mentioned the game Serbia played against the U.S. in the Olympics. Obviously it's passed and you played a great game, but do you think if it wasn't for the referees, Serbia wins that game?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think it's a -- I don't know. I think it's a bunch of situations, bunch of moments can be a big factor. I'm not sure the refs are the ones that we can blame. But if you're going to beat those guys, then yes -- if that was the reason why we lost, then yes, it's the referees. But it's not. It's not.

We definitely put up the fight, and we definitely -- for me probably, I've always said it's the biggest loss of my career, and I think it was a really interesting game. I kind of felt it, everybody was cheering for us, for a small, small country.

I'm not sure if they wanted to see the USA lose or they wanted to see us win.

Q. You've talked about how you just kind of like being around the guys here this weekend. I'm curious if there's anyone you've gotten close with or gotten to know over the years?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Maybe not close-close, but talked a little bit. Then we're playing so many games, then talk to him in the game. I'm not going to -- like today I talked a little bit to KAT. We've played so many years together -- not together, against each other, and you're just going to make some kind of relationship.

It's not something that we are close-close. We are not going to go to each other's house. But we are doing the same job, we're eating the same bread, so why not be a little bit communicative.

Q. You've said that this game isn't necessarily for you, and I think you've kind of made that clear in the past. Is it a problem that arguably the best player in the world doesn't think the All-Star Game fits the way he plays?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think that's not a question for me, my friend (smiling). I don't know. I think it's not a question for me. Maybe, maybe not. If you want my opinion, I cannot give you because I think it's not going to be nice.

Q. Why isn't it going to be nice?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Because I think people will not like it, and I'm not going to give it to you. (Laughter.)

Q. Do you think the new format this year with the multiple games will improve the level of competitiveness?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Maybe. We will see. I think it's definitely something that we've worked to change and it's worth a try. We'll see how the players will react and how it's going to be.

Q. It's been two weeks since the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade. How do you think that trade changed the landscape moving forward?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I kind of think both teams win. I think maybe in my opinion, of course, maybe I think Luka is a generational player, generational talent. I'm not saying that AD is not. I'm just saying that Luka is somebody that did we see someone like this before, who is affecting the game on so many levels, so many possessions. He was building something there. I think he was hurt, and just -- but I think it's good because then people and players are going to take more serious.

I think a trade is not such a big thing, but if you trade someone like that, I think it becomes a little bit of a big thing, and maybe players become a little bit serious about it.

Q. Is it weird not having Luka here?

NIKOLA JOKIC: It's weird because we always have a good night before the game.