Peter Okereke
Denver Nuggets fans were glad to see who Nikola Jokic was rooting for during the UEFA Champions League Final. The three-time NBA MVP was seen passionately supporting Arsenal FC as they took on French champions Paris Saint-Germain in one of the prestigious soccer events in the world.
Arsenal, who won the English Premier League this season for the first time in 22 years, just so happens to be owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group headed by Stan Kroenke that owns the Nuggets.
Unfortunately, Jokic’s smile soon turned to a frown, as Arsenal was defeated 4-3 on penalties by PSG after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Budapest. Like his NBA season with the Nuggets, his soccer team wasn’t able to hoist the European championship trophy, despite huge expectations to do so.
In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets were surprisingly defeated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the early postseason exit marked arguably the most disappointing season of Jokic’s career so far.
Jokic only has one more guaranteed year and one player option year left on his contract before free agency. Plus, the Serbian star has declined Denver’s most recent contract extension. The decision not to re-sign was expected though, as Jokic can make more money by waiting.
But all signs point to Jokic being a Nugget for life, and his showing support to Kroenke’s soccer team gives that assumption more validation. And the good news for Denver is that it seems just as likely as ever before that Jokic will be the team’s franchise player for the long run.
Nikola Jokic is 31 years old and has been in the top two in MVP voting in six consecutive years. The eight-time All-Star has quickly established himself as one of the best centers in NBA history.
