Novak Djokovic on Nikola Jokic friendship: Amazing he’s from Serbia

Tennis player Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, hugs Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets with former Laker great Vlade Divac looking on after the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on March 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES — The Djoker was mid-monologue about the Joker when a tap on the shoulder interrupted him.

Speak of the devil.

“I’m talking about the legend,” a beaming Novak Djokovic told Nikola Jokic, who had wandered over to investigate the interview.

Nuggets players, coaches and front office staff were still milling about as Djokovic held court outside the visiting locker room. He had been sitting courtside for LeBron James’ 40,000th career point, and for Denver’s comeback to spoil the milestone. After a 124-114 win over the Lakers, almost everybody in the team’s traveling party was eager for Jokic to introduce them to the top-ranked tennis player in the world.

Djokovic recalled watching Jokic play in Serbia once. And another time in Turkey, when Jokic was suiting up for the Serbian national team. But this was Djokovic’s first time rooting for his friend live at an NBA game. Jokic supplied 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

So, as he was saying …

“What he has done for not just Serbian basketball but European basketball in general is incredible,” Djokovic continued after Jokic turned the other way. “He has rewritten the history books in the last three years, and he just keeps going. He is in his prime. He’s the best. We’re super proud of him. I’m a great supporter of him, everything he does. We didn’t have too many athletes like him in the history (of Serbia), so he’s right up there. And he still isn’t finished.”

Djokovic’s date was Vlade Divac, a former NBA All-Star who’s also considered Serbian sports royalty. “But what Nikola’s doing is a different level,” Djokovic told The Denver Post in an exclusive interview. In fact, Jokic seems to be ascending toward a stratosphere within the nation’s history occupied only by Djokovic, the record-holding 24-time Grand Slam winner who has spent more than 400 weeks atop the world ranking.

“Like a bright star to most of people back home,” as Jokic put it. “… Probably it’s gonna (be) a long, long time and years before anybody like him is gonna show up again.”

“You have the best tennis player in the world, and you have the best basketball player in the world — according to my opinion,” said Nuggets assistant coach Ogi Stojakovic, who helped coach the Serbian national team to a FIBA World Cup silver medal last summer. “They support each other. It was really cool. You can kind of feel proud you’re a small piece, small…