Nikola Jokic Biography: Net Worth, NBA Records, Stats, and Personal Life

The quality center from the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, "The Joker," is one of the most loved basketball players in the NBA. Standing at 6′11″ and weighing 284 lb, his large frame with passing abilities and knack for basketball have set new standards for the Center position players. Despite starting off as a club player in Serbia, he was able to reach the NBA and then secured NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the upcoming years.

He was drafted as the 41st overall in 2014, he quickly emerged as a transcendent talent, becoming the lowest-drafted player ever to win MVP, earning the award three times. He was drafted 41st overall in 2014, he quickly emerged as a transcendent talent, becoming the lowest-drafted player ever to win an MVP, and earned the award three times.

Considered by many including Steve Kerr, the greatest center ever, he faces potential off-court uncertainty after Denver recently dismissed their head coach that can impact his future.

Nikola Jokic's Early Life

Nikola Jokic's early life includes him being born on February 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia. He grew up in a house where his parents two older brothers and his grandparents used to live in a two-bedroom place. His father worked as an agricultural engineer, and his wife, as a nurse.

Money was an issue for the family from the start, but Nikola Jokic's father made sure that it was never less. Moreover, Nikola's brothers also motivated him to play basketball, after which he started honing his skills through local clubs and competitions. As a child, Jokić always showed a love for basketball but also had a passion for horse racing and spent time around harness racing tracks—something that still fascinates him today.

Jokic's upbringing was grounded and simple; his family lived in a small apartment where he, his parents, and his grandmother shared space. Despite not having access to elite training facilities, his natural talent, creativity, and basketball IQ became apparent during his teenage years. His brothers were protective mentors who helped him build toughness and resilience.

Nikola Jokic's Personal Life

Nikola Jokic has had a life long passion for horse racing back in Serbia, and loves horse racing. Unlike most NBA stars, he prefers a low-key life, that involves hiking in Denver, fishing, playing video games, gardening, cooking with Natalija and reading books about houses. He is also known for humility and avoids the spotlight. He also often jokes with his wife and brothers while playing card games and he prioritizes family and off-court balance over fame.

The player information is as follows:

Nikola Jokic's Parents

Nikola Jokic's parents influenced his interests and outlook on life. Branislav and Nikolina, while growing up in Sombor. After welcoming Nikola’s older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, Branislav and Nikolina had Nikola on Feb. 19, 1995.

Branislav was an agricultural engineer and owned a horse stable in Sombor, where he and Nikolina raised three boys in a small, two-bedroom apartment with their grandmother. During the 2023 NBA Finals — before leading the Nuggets to an NBA championship over the Miami Heat — Nikola spoke to reporters about how his family has supported his journey.

Nikola Jokic's Wife

Nikola Jokic's wife is Natalija Jokic, who has been his high school love since both of them were teenagers. Both of them tied the knot together in October 2020. Natalija has been posting continuously about their relationship since both of them were 17 in 2012. She even admires and celebrates Nikola Jokic for his achievements.

When Jokic got his first All-Star selection in 2019, Natalija posted on Instagram with the caption, “All Star of my heart.” She moved to the U.S. before Nikola to play volleyball for Seminole State College in Oklahoma.

Nikola Jokic's Kids

Nikola Jokic's kids are two in number. Natalija gave birth to her first child in October 2021. The couple welcomed a daughter and named her Ognjena, which means "fiery" in Serbian. The couple also welcomed a son in November 2024 when Nikola was absent from games. As per Serbian Times, he has become a father again. However, the Joker has not revealed much information about the name of the kid.

Nikola Jokic's Net Worth

According to Forbes, Nikola Jokic's net worth is estimated to be $56.1 million. Jokic was a top prospect, but it was the 2019 season that exploded his net worth in the league. He not only made it to the All-NBA First Team but also to the All-Star team. He also has endorsements with brands like Western Union, Somborac (Serbian fruit brandy), Panini (trading cards), and 361° (Chinese sports giant).

The Joker signed a multi-year deal with the Chinese sports giant 361° in late 2023. It is a signature shoe deal that enables Jokic to design shoes for the brand. Coming to the salaries part, Nikola Jokic is on a max five-year $276.122 million contract with the Denver Nuggets. According to his contract, his average annual salary is $55.22 million.

Nikola Jokic's Contract

Nikola Jokić signed a five-year super-max contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, valued at approximately $276 million, making it one of the richest contracts in NBA history. The deal runs from the 2023–24 season through the 2027–28 season and includes a player option in the final year. Jokić’s salary increases each year, reflecting his superstar status, with the contract peaking at over $62 million in the final season if he exercises the option. This contract ensures he remains the financial cornerstone of the Nuggets while cementing his place as one of the league’s highest-paid players.

Nikola Jokic's Salary

Nikola Jokic's salary started with modest rookie-scale earnings after being drafted 41st overall in 2014, receiving around $1.3 million in his first season and gradually increasing through his early years. Following a breakout MVP level performance, he signed a five year super max extension in July 2022, worth $276.1 million fully guaranteed, becoming one of the most substantial contracts in NBA history with an average annual value of $55.2 million. Under that deal, Jokić will earn about $47.6 million in 2023–24, escalating to $51.4 million in 2024–25, and peaking at $62.8 million in 2027–28, which features a player option .

Nikola Jokic's Career

Nikola Jokic's career is more about overcoming the day-to-day adversities that challenge the growth of an individual. However, Nikola thrived in those conditions. When a competitive high school was not around to learn the fundamentals of basketball, he resorted to playing for local clubs. Eventually, such attempts took him to Serbia, where his club records and averages got the attention of the NBA scouts. Later on, he proved why he was picked from overseas for the NBA, showcasing his skills on the floor despite being a late pick.

Nikola Jokic's High School Career

Nikola Jokic's high school career did not involve him playing high school basketball. Rather, he loved to play for the clubs alongside his elder brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja. The latter brother also played with Detroit Mercy and C.W. Post when he was in the United States.

Nikola Jokic's College Career

Nikola Jokic's college career did not involve him playing college basketball. He went directly from Serbia’s Mega Basket professional team to the NBA.

Nikola Jokic Professional Career

Jokic's professional career began with joining the Adriatic Basketball Association league with KK Mega Vizura in Belgrade, Serbia. He played for the team from 2012 to 2015 and averaged 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 2013-14 after signing a four-year contract. The Denver Nuggets were even selected in 2014 as the 41st overall pick. However, he kept playing for the club and earned the Adriatic League regular season MVP title in 2015. He dished out 15.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during the 2014-15 season.

But Jokic then left Serbia and joined the Denver Nuggets on October 28, 2015, to make his NBA debut. During his initial three rookie-level years, Jokic broke through his shell and received the NBA MVP award in 2021. He continued to dominate both sides of the rim and earned the honor in 2022 and 2024 as well. However, he did not win the former title when he won the championship with the Denver Nuggets over Miami Heat. He only won the NBA Finals MVP that year. Notably, he is the only player besides Jason Kidd to record a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut. It shows how much Jokic is adept at his skill. Here are the numbers he has put so far in the league:

Nikola Jokic's Achievements

Nikola Jokic's awards and achievements have been tremendous. Just after entering the league in 2015, Jokic achieved fame for his All-NBA Second Team selection. However, he did not confine himself but kept growing on the court. It was the reason why he clinched the 2021 NBA MVP. After another season of MVP honor, he could not earn it in 2023. However, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship that year.

After spending almost a decade in the league and international basketball, Nikola Jokic has achieved the following awards in his career so far:

Nikola Jokic's Record

Nikola Jokic's record includes him being the first player with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a season. Even his single-game records are unbreakable right now since he is the only NBA player ever to achieve 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists in a game.

The Joker also holds the record for the fastest triple-double in NBA history, which he achieved in 14 minutes and 33 seconds. Due to the run-and-gun style of play, Jokic has become the first one to post 20-15-15 in less than 30 minutes. The immediate switch of pace often compels Jokic to post such records.

Apart from his career stats, Jokic is the first player with at least 10 triple-doubles in seven straight seasons (he’s still going at eight now). Also, in the franchise history, Jokic was the first player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Here are the career records of Nikola Jokic in the NBA:

How Many Rings Does Nikola Jokic Have?

Nikola Jokić has one NBA championship ring, earned during the 2023 NBA Finals, where he led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever title. Jokić was honored as the Finals MVP, cementing his legacy with a historic performance that helped end the franchise's long championship drought.