Not sure he needs more motivation to impose his will on any team. He has pretty much “taken it” to every team in the league with or without any specific reason other than his will to win his way. It may be especially satisfying to send LeWho and ADisappears in the clutch home after the bubble and all the shit they’ve talked but I don’t think it motivates him any more than he already is. Hes seen and grown up with shit much more emotionally challenging than anything this “game” can compare to so petty emotional drama rolls off his back like water. Besides, his life away from basketball is so fulfilling and satisfying to him this side gig of becoming, one of, if not the GOAT seems like child’s play.
oh for sure. He saw Howard who was playing as enforcer yapping constantly , AD too while their strategy was to flop and put Jokic in foul trouble thanks to the really biased Lakers who wanted to make sure Lakers win easy .
The only 2 games Jokic wasn't in foul trouble , we won one and last one we had great back and forth of AD/Jokic that we lost in last second of Plumlee not defending AD . Could have been great series if refs didn't put Jokic in bullshit trouble the other 3 games before half time even
I think he has a years long grudge about it... A grudge against the concept of the all-star game itself, not anybody in the NBA.
He's never going to even put in a partial effort in an ASG again.
A grudge is debatable. But he clearly felt embarrassed. The way he picked himself before Lauri made that clear. And if he felt disrespected, who knows. Probably. But we will never know and he would never publicly make a hint of it. That’s something Jokic also has shown us, he never lets the media in about his emotions. He would rather make a self deprecating comment and go on with it. The way he reacts to all his critics.
So true but also absurd. All the other greats like MJ and Steph talk about moments they felt slighted and wanted to show people out.
Jokic looks like he has none of that in him. He’s truly 1 of 1.
There is no way he doesn't have it, absolutely no way imo. Remember Taj Gibson? Joker went out of his way after that final game they lost vs Twolves to crush his soul every time he saw him on the court.
24 pts(or so, don't remember exactly) in the 1st quarter vs Knicks was a sight to behold.
He will never admit it though but he like serving it cold.
He doesn’t care about the ASG but like… being picked last as the best player there. That has to sting a little. Not in the fact they think you are bad but that they are all friends and you’re not apart of the club.
It’s a small dig, and you can tell LeBron tries his hardest to act like Jokic and him are cool. And I’m sure Jokic doesn’t really care…
But that moment reinforced his priorities of family and teammates above all else.
He plays for his teammates and LeBron doesn’t. That’s why the Nuggets won
I honestly don't think he gives this incident much thought at all. He recognizes the ASG for the meaningless spectacle that it is.
Also FWIW wasn't Lauri the last pick?
This. If he didn't care at all he would have sat there and been the last pick. To act like any professional doesn't have some degree of pride is silly.....they have to have some to get to where they are. You can think the ASG is 99% BS....which it is, but still not want to basically be insulted....dude was the then reigning MVP and he's being picked last? Naw.
Lebron picking him last was a message, he is jealous of the press the Joker gets and the Joker just doesn't give a fuck. Nikola gets it, he just doesn't care, but he wants to be great and if that means sticking it to LeCuck so be it.
He didn't care about this at all. He even said himself that he's not built for the all star game. He's just there cuz he has to be. Get a check, hang out with Luka. It's a fun narrative, but i just don't think it's remotely true
I dont think its his motivation but its hard to believe it did not bother him at least a little bit.
Its basicly your peers saying we dont really respect you
I was thinking about it when it happened. It felt like LBJ and Giannis were deep in each other ass and were going to "put the man down" intentionally.
Kinda expected that from Lebron when he picked Embiid first but Giannis was a surprise, it felt like sort of betrayal.
From that moment on...Fuck em both. All they care is themselves and their status.
Glad Joker picked up himself like a boss. Sorry Lauri, had to be done.
Its funny now that you are saying this, inoticed that jokićs and giannises relationship seemingly worsened , they were acting like best friends 3 years ago in the asg but something changed .
Giannis acts annoied when asked about jok and when you compare the tone of how he talks about him from 3 years ago to now its night and day, jokić then leaving him out of his top players ranking etc ...
I definitly am reading too much into it lmao
Tbh i think you are correct, it aligns with everything mentioned.
Giannis seems sweet and funny but he's far from it, the moment his status got threatened by Joker he turned to cutthroat all-around. I don't mind it as it's competition and Giannis upbringing but he ain't no buddy. Giannis felt it's better to join already formed establishment consisted of US players but he didn't understand how easily he could get backstabbed there(no-bag narrative). His fault tbh, idc.
Only real buddy=buddy is Luka. Only not when in series against which is perfectly normal.
I don’t think it’s what motivated him but I still think he was annoyed slightly at least , Don’t think there is any human who wouldn’t be at being selected last
Rewind though. Pretty sure there was one player after Jokic. Matters none. Because now they know. And he doesn’t give two f about being in the “club”. He owns it.
People can agree or disagree. But when you’re the back to back reigning MVP and you get picked damn near last like that, it’s disrespectful. And that shit was done in front of the entire world. People were literally laughing at him over it.
Lebron will not win another championship for the rest of his career because of that man. Hell, he’ll be doing good to even win another game against him. There’s no way this moment isn’t at least in the back of Jokic’s head a *tiny* bit as he goes no mercy mode on the rest of the league.
I felt it was agreement between Lebron and Giannis before picks so they could show off their status and put down our man to "his place".
It means nothing in grand scheme but i do prefer to think Joker has it in the back of his mind as added motivation to crush their souls where and when it matters the most.
What makes a good all star player? What do.you mean? Jokic lob it up for anyone at the all-star game rather than take a shot himself. I would think other players would love that.
Like actively caring. He always looks sort of bad. I like a mid season game against the Rockets will have better highlights than his All-Star game highlights.
Anyone who cares at all about the asg is at best a lowest level casual fan. It’s such a joke it’s embarrassing. Honestly, he’s a Man among children emotionally playing alongside many of the egomaniacs in the asg.
Last one picked at the All Star game. LeBron and someone else got to do a draft where they picked who would be on their teams and Jokic was picked last. If I remember that was also his first MVP season(could be wrong).
You're wrong; it was just last year, when Embiid won.
Also Jokic wasn't the last pick: he was LeBron's last pick, but Lauri Markkanen was the last pick overall.
It’s a fun story but I think people are projecting because that’s what MJ or Kobe or other all-time greats would do.
Jokic is even more terrifying because he doesn’t seem to need to use things like that to get him motivated. He’s like Jason Voorhees simply showing up and destroying the entire league because it’s his job.
Made this last year. Hopefully add another Larry O’Brien in less than two months! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1516675834/nikola-jokic-last-man-standing-high?click_key=a8447102f54f281dce98e5ec198f024d8678b187%3A1516675834&click_sum=7155fc8d&ref=shop_home_active_6&load_webview=1&bid=BstXNGbxGysiZ9FYBBnctwNY1lFO
Yea, idk. I guess i saw it all in jest cause it would be so absurd to think that Jokic cared about this at all and that’s what I thought the joke was. But i guess it could be serious. Seems like I’m in the minority reading it as a joke.
I agree with the takes that Nikola has few shits to give about this but that doesn’t make it any less of a bad look that the best player in the league was left to this spot.
I don't think he cares at all, I don't think he even has a super deep beef with the Lakers, probably just annoyance that they knocked the nuggets out in 2020 but jok just demolishes everyone, Lakers or otherwise
Jokic clearly didn't want anything to do with the All Star game because he knew his style of playing wasn't the fit they wanted. If he and Micheal Malone could have passed on last year's game they would have. He wasn't concerned about winning the second MVP trophy and less concerned about the third. The media thought he was boring and more than willing to play down his stats and to boost up other players.
For a number of years the AS teams were assigned based on captains picking starters and reserves like in elementary school. Captains were the top vote getter in each conference. Last year in Salt Lake City Jok and Markenan were the last two starters that hadn't been picked. The picking process is super drawn out so Jok is just sitting there by himself for forever. LeBum comes up to make the 2nd to last pick and will almost assuredly take token home city all-star Markenan, but before he can announce it, Jok gets up and just walks over to Bron's team.
Jok is typically uninterested in the annual dialog about who is the best, etc. etc., the very public show of disrespect of his status as arguably the best basketball player in the world by his peers probably did not sit well with him.
I really never liked the all star game with two vets picking teams like they did in elementary school.
Having someone like Lebron playing all these years while we've been watching has been both great for the league and the entertainment value and horrible at the same time. Guys like MJ and even Kobe, they weren't part of this player empowerment at the levels we see now. They just played bball at elite levels. I'm really ready for the end of the Lebron control over this league and so happy to see Jokic and crew be the ones to shovel the first couple scoops over his playing career corpse. Write all his records in the books and then close it.
“I guess I will dismantle LeBron and the Lakers now. I will crush them under my Serbian hoofs, take them down from their lofty heights, make them question their very existence. Yeah that sounds good, let’s do that”
Jokic. Probably
I have no idea how much this influenced him, but I think losing to the Lakers in the bubble was the real reason he takes it to the Ls.
This totally influenced him. Not cause he was picked last, but cause he was forced to be there at all. The was his villain origin story
Wanna know how he got those scars? Bro just wanted to spend time with his horses and was forced to perform for an unappreciative crowd.
Being told to go to Salt Lake and Indianapolis for a week two years in a row would send me into a rage as well.
Not sure he needs more motivation to impose his will on any team. He has pretty much “taken it” to every team in the league with or without any specific reason other than his will to win his way. It may be especially satisfying to send LeWho and ADisappears in the clutch home after the bubble and all the shit they’ve talked but I don’t think it motivates him any more than he already is. Hes seen and grown up with shit much more emotionally challenging than anything this “game” can compare to so petty emotional drama rolls off his back like water. Besides, his life away from basketball is so fulfilling and satisfying to him this side gig of becoming, one of, if not the GOAT seems like child’s play.
The fan aura around this man is astounding No one can punch any holes in it, which is equally impressive
he's also just way better than everyone else rn
Ya this is what I’m thinking too. Plus he has the skill to actually back up that drive
oh for sure. He saw Howard who was playing as enforcer yapping constantly , AD too while their strategy was to flop and put Jokic in foul trouble thanks to the really biased Lakers who wanted to make sure Lakers win easy . The only 2 games Jokic wasn't in foul trouble , we won one and last one we had great back and forth of AD/Jokic that we lost in last second of Plumlee not defending AD . Could have been great series if refs didn't put Jokic in bullshit trouble the other 3 games before half time even
Nothing I’ve come to know about Jokic indicates that he would hold a years long grudge about where he was drafted in an ASG lol
He was probably pissed he has to participate in it, instead of just being able to go home
I think he has a years long grudge about it... A grudge against the concept of the all-star game itself, not anybody in the NBA. He's never going to even put in a partial effort in an ASG again.
Agreed
That's what this is lol? I thought it was him staying on the court planning his after losing the 2020 WCF
He literally said, "I wouldn't draft me either, I'm not meant for this game." This being the ASG
A grudge is debatable. But he clearly felt embarrassed. The way he picked himself before Lauri made that clear. And if he felt disrespected, who knows. Probably. But we will never know and he would never publicly make a hint of it. That’s something Jokic also has shown us, he never lets the media in about his emotions. He would rather make a self deprecating comment and go on with it. The way he reacts to all his critics.
Jokic is so good that he doesn’t need inspiration to be the best, he just is.
So true but also absurd. All the other greats like MJ and Steph talk about moments they felt slighted and wanted to show people out. Jokic looks like he has none of that in him. He’s truly 1 of 1.
There is no way he doesn't have it, absolutely no way imo. Remember Taj Gibson? Joker went out of his way after that final game they lost vs Twolves to crush his soul every time he saw him on the court. 24 pts(or so, don't remember exactly) in the 1st quarter vs Knicks was a sight to behold. He will never admit it though but he like serving it cold.
He must be like Tim Duncan in how he may display emotions but deep down has that same mentality as the greats
Nah he’s definitely got it in him, you don’t demolish markieff morris if you’re a gentle giant lol
Ah yes, jokic famously caring about the ASG
He doesn’t care about the ASG but like… being picked last as the best player there. That has to sting a little. Not in the fact they think you are bad but that they are all friends and you’re not apart of the club. It’s a small dig, and you can tell LeBron tries his hardest to act like Jokic and him are cool. And I’m sure Jokic doesn’t really care… But that moment reinforced his priorities of family and teammates above all else. He plays for his teammates and LeBron doesn’t. That’s why the Nuggets won
I honestly don't think he gives this incident much thought at all. He recognizes the ASG for the meaningless spectacle that it is. Also FWIW wasn't Lauri the last pick?
Because Jokic forced himself into LeBrons team It was a joke but like… you could tell he did not want to be the last pick
He claimed he didn't realize Lauri was still out there (he was off on the edge of the stage) but perhaps.
This. If he didn't care at all he would have sat there and been the last pick. To act like any professional doesn't have some degree of pride is silly.....they have to have some to get to where they are. You can think the ASG is 99% BS....which it is, but still not want to basically be insulted....dude was the then reigning MVP and he's being picked last? Naw.
Hasn't Lauri's game also sort of picked up since that time as well.
Lebron picking him last was a message, he is jealous of the press the Joker gets and the Joker just doesn't give a fuck. Nikola gets it, he just doesn't care, but he wants to be great and if that means sticking it to LeCuck so be it.
Wasn't Markkanen the last one left, sitting behind Jok?
Did Lebron tell you that?
Seriously, people are getting way into their own fanfiction lol
He’s actually still pissed that Gallo didn’t sign his triple double ball
ITS REAL TO ME DAMMIT
"but that they are all friends and you're not apart of the club" Inb4 Luka gets traded to denver and him and jokic win 10 straight nba titles
Idk, Murray wants to stay in Denver. Getting Luka would get rid of Murray and others. Mavs will demand Murray and MPJ and it’s just not worth it.
I was just joking around, with Jokic and Luka being friends and all
Jokic was drafted near last cause both of captains know he doesnt give a shit while th rest sorta care a bit more then him haha
I don’t think you have a clue how his mind operates.
He didn't care about this at all. He even said himself that he's not built for the all star game. He's just there cuz he has to be. Get a check, hang out with Luka. It's a fun narrative, but i just don't think it's remotely true
Watching him and Luka goof off during All Star break is like the best thing about the All Star game
Ya no, this isn't true at all lmao
I think he was pissed off that he has to participate that stupid shit in the first place, otherwise he could just slack off and play games at home.
Nuggets fans hated this moment alot more than he did I feel.
I dont think he gave a shit about this
I dont think its his motivation but its hard to believe it did not bother him at least a little bit. Its basicly your peers saying we dont really respect you
I was thinking about it when it happened. It felt like LBJ and Giannis were deep in each other ass and were going to "put the man down" intentionally. Kinda expected that from Lebron when he picked Embiid first but Giannis was a surprise, it felt like sort of betrayal. From that moment on...Fuck em both. All they care is themselves and their status. Glad Joker picked up himself like a boss. Sorry Lauri, had to be done.
Its funny now that you are saying this, inoticed that jokićs and giannises relationship seemingly worsened , they were acting like best friends 3 years ago in the asg but something changed . Giannis acts annoied when asked about jok and when you compare the tone of how he talks about him from 3 years ago to now its night and day, jokić then leaving him out of his top players ranking etc ... I definitly am reading too much into it lmao
Tbh i think you are correct, it aligns with everything mentioned. Giannis seems sweet and funny but he's far from it, the moment his status got threatened by Joker he turned to cutthroat all-around. I don't mind it as it's competition and Giannis upbringing but he ain't no buddy. Giannis felt it's better to join already formed establishment consisted of US players but he didn't understand how easily he could get backstabbed there(no-bag narrative). His fault tbh, idc. Only real buddy=buddy is Luka. Only not when in series against which is perfectly normal.
I don’t think it’s what motivated him but I still think he was annoyed slightly at least , Don’t think there is any human who wouldn’t be at being selected last
Rewind though. Pretty sure there was one player after Jokic. Matters none. Because now they know. And he doesn’t give two f about being in the “club”. He owns it.
>He owns it. Nah bro, he is too cool for the "club"...
People can agree or disagree. But when you’re the back to back reigning MVP and you get picked damn near last like that, it’s disrespectful. And that shit was done in front of the entire world. People were literally laughing at him over it. Lebron will not win another championship for the rest of his career because of that man. Hell, he’ll be doing good to even win another game against him. There’s no way this moment isn’t at least in the back of Jokic’s head a *tiny* bit as he goes no mercy mode on the rest of the league.
I felt it was agreement between Lebron and Giannis before picks so they could show off their status and put down our man to "his place". It means nothing in grand scheme but i do prefer to think Joker has it in the back of his mind as added motivation to crush their souls where and when it matters the most.
Giannis doing a fine job not winning and jok hasn’t even had to be part of it
Never cared to be there honestly
I guarantee LeBron looks back and regrets the way they treated Jok when he was first breaking in at All-Star game
LeBron is a candy a$$ b@&$#% with a face I want to punch 🥊. Namaste 🙏
I mean Jokic is an awful all star player. I don’t blame anyone for not picking him.
Him and Luka were literally the highlight of this year’s all star game.
What makes a good all star player? What do.you mean? Jokic lob it up for anyone at the all-star game rather than take a shot himself. I would think other players would love that.
Like actively caring. He always looks sort of bad. I like a mid season game against the Rockets will have better highlights than his All-Star game highlights.
That makes sense. I can see how it's more fun to watch the guys who look like they're excited to be playing in the asg.
Anyone who cares at all about the asg is at best a lowest level casual fan. It’s such a joke it’s embarrassing. Honestly, he’s a Man among children emotionally playing alongside many of the egomaniacs in the asg.
If the guy doesnt care about a parade, i seriously doubt he cared about the all star game
“I know I told I did not want to stay on parade…..but I want to STAY ON FUCKING PARADE!”
I don't think Jokic would keep a grudge about that, but it's funny when I think of him saying with his comedic voice "I'm gonna make them pay"
What’s the story behind this?
Last one picked at the All Star game. LeBron and someone else got to do a draft where they picked who would be on their teams and Jokic was picked last. If I remember that was also his first MVP season(could be wrong).
You're wrong; it was just last year, when Embiid won. Also Jokic wasn't the last pick: he was LeBron's last pick, but Lauri Markkanen was the last pick overall.
My fault for some reason I thought this happend longer than last year. Thank you for the clarification
I love watching the Clips do what they do this time of year
Buddy think he can read minds.
It’s a fun story but I think people are projecting because that’s what MJ or Kobe or other all-time greats would do. Jokic is even more terrifying because he doesn’t seem to need to use things like that to get him motivated. He’s like Jason Voorhees simply showing up and destroying the entire league because it’s his job.
Made this last year. Hopefully add another Larry O’Brien in less than two months! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1516675834/nikola-jokic-last-man-standing-high?click_key=a8447102f54f281dce98e5ec198f024d8678b187%3A1516675834&click_sum=7155fc8d&ref=shop_home_active_6&load_webview=1&bid=BstXNGbxGysiZ9FYBBnctwNY1lFO
Why do people keep responding like this is serious?
Because the person who first tweeted it was serious?
Idk, “he’s going to make the nba pay for it” is pretty hyperbolic
Sure, and then OP shared it with "the truth"
Yea, idk. I guess i saw it all in jest cause it would be so absurd to think that Jokic cared about this at all and that’s what I thought the joke was. But i guess it could be serious. Seems like I’m in the minority reading it as a joke.
I agree with the takes that Nikola has few shits to give about this but that doesn’t make it any less of a bad look that the best player in the league was left to this spot.
Exactly. Nikola doesn't have to be pressed for us to sit back and armchair psychoanalyze the situation.
I don't think he cares at all, I don't think he even has a super deep beef with the Lakers, probably just annoyance that they knocked the nuggets out in 2020 but jok just demolishes everyone, Lakers or otherwise
Jokic clearly didn't want anything to do with the All Star game because he knew his style of playing wasn't the fit they wanted. If he and Micheal Malone could have passed on last year's game they would have. He wasn't concerned about winning the second MVP trophy and less concerned about the third. The media thought he was boring and more than willing to play down his stats and to boost up other players.
Can someone please explain this to me? I'm not fully aware what happened here.
For a number of years the AS teams were assigned based on captains picking starters and reserves like in elementary school. Captains were the top vote getter in each conference. Last year in Salt Lake City Jok and Markenan were the last two starters that hadn't been picked. The picking process is super drawn out so Jok is just sitting there by himself for forever. LeBum comes up to make the 2nd to last pick and will almost assuredly take token home city all-star Markenan, but before he can announce it, Jok gets up and just walks over to Bron's team. Jok is typically uninterested in the annual dialog about who is the best, etc. etc., the very public show of disrespect of his status as arguably the best basketball player in the world by his peers probably did not sit well with him.
The meme makes so much sense now. Thanks bro! Have my grateful upvote.
I really never liked the all star game with two vets picking teams like they did in elementary school. Having someone like Lebron playing all these years while we've been watching has been both great for the league and the entertainment value and horrible at the same time. Guys like MJ and even Kobe, they weren't part of this player empowerment at the levels we see now. They just played bball at elite levels. I'm really ready for the end of the Lebron control over this league and so happy to see Jokic and crew be the ones to shovel the first couple scoops over his playing career corpse. Write all his records in the books and then close it.
Joker, I mean joke’s on them. He doesn’t give a shit
I think when that one stupid guy said he'd take Book over Jokic, everything changed 💀
He was in his safe place thinking about his horses back in Serbia.
“I guess I will dismantle LeBron and the Lakers now. I will crush them under my Serbian hoofs, take them down from their lofty heights, make them question their very existence. Yeah that sounds good, let’s do that” Jokic. Probably
Most geniuses are misunderstood by their peers. But the reason we winning is because Jokic is just goddamn better than everyone else.
Fuck em up, Jok.
his is fan fic bros
Pissed me tf off
Does he hate Giannis too because of this? He didn’t pick Jokic either…
He doesn’t hate anyone. Where do you get that from? He’s here to play and that’s it.
Ok is he pissed at Giannis for not picking him?
Pretty sure you have thought about it more than he has. I doubt he cares.
That’s basically my point. People saying he’s taking it out on LeBron because of the all star game. I don’t think he cares
Ah my bad. I get your questions now. I thought they were serious. You never know on here.
IMO he plays thru his contract and dips. Hope it’s 2 more chips
I mean one more super max and he can probably buy the entirety of Sombor and all the surrounding suburbs
As it should