Nikola Jokic’s agent recently revealed a touching and sentimental story about a personal experience from his boyhood that has gone full circle in a significant way. As a little boy in 2000, he received a Denver Nuggets jumper, a gift that was more than just an item of apparel.
The slogan “$20 for the best” appeared on the jumper, and while it appeared to be a simple message at the time, it has subsequently taken on far deeper importance.
Many saw the Denver Nuggets as simply another NBA team at the moment, but the jumper meant something special to Jokic’s agency. Growing up in Serbia, far from the NBA’s glitz and glamour, receiving a league-related present was a rare and treasured experience.
It represented his love of basketball and his desire to one day work in professional athletics, despite the great geographical and cultural barrier.
The jumper served as a reminder of the possibilities that lied ahead, no matter how improbable they appeared.
The term “$20 for the best” alluded to the gift’s affordability and accessibility, while also implicitly reflecting the aspirations that sometimes accompany childhood dreams—dreams of being a part of something bigger. For a little child who adored basketball, this modest present created the seeds of a future he couldn’t have imagined.
