Nikola Jokic is a champion once again—just not on the hardwood this time.
On Sunday, the Denver Nuggets superstar watched one of his beloved horses, Demon Dell’Est, win first place at the prestigious Dužijanac 2025 race in Subotica, Serbia. And for once, Jokic didn’t hold back the emotions.
In a rare public display of vulnerability, the typically stoic big man was seen breaking down in tears as his horse crossed the finish line. A video shared by the Nuggets shows Jokic putting his head in his hands before climbing over a fence, hugging the driver, and joining his team in the winner’s circle. There, Jokic grabbed a magnum of champagne and doused everyone—including the horse.
Jokic Shows Rare Emotion at Horse Race
Jokic’s passion for horses is no secret. His father, Branislav, runs a local harness racing club on the outskirts of Sombor, Serbia, and Jokic has long prioritized equestrian life alongside basketball.
In a 2023 interview with the AP, his father shared that Jokic used to tell him, “Dad, I want to become a horseman,” even before fully pursuing basketball. “And I used to tell him: ‘Son, become a basketball player first, and you’ll become a great horseman later.’”
Turns out, he did both.
Jokic’s Horse > NBA Title?
Fans online quickly contrasted Jokic’s tearful celebration in Serbia with his now-infamous muted response to winning the 2023 NBA championship. In his postgame interview, Jokic calmly told ESPN, “The job is done. We can go home now.”
The flat reaction prompted a wave of memes suggesting Jokic didn’t even like basketball that much. Which, of course, was nonsense. He’s a three-time MVP, an Olympic medalist, and was the engine behind Denver’s title run.
But this weekend proved something else: While The Joker cares deeply about basketball, horse racing occupies a uniquely personal corner of his heart.
A Moment That Meant Everything
The Joker’s visible emotion as Demon Dell’Est stormed to victory said more than words ever could. He celebrated like a man who had just won it all—not with confetti or a trophy, but with champagne, hugs, and tears on a racetrack back home.
It’s a side of Jokic fans rarely see. And a reminder that for some champions, the biggest wins don’t always come on the biggest stages.
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