Nikola Jokic is the biggest enigma of an NBA player and this time he has proved it by admitting he shouldn’t be anyone’s role model.
Jokic certainly didn’t become a basketball player for the fame, so much so that he’s admittedly become ruder to people who approach him in public.
“I’m getting more and more bothered by popularity,” he said on The Jao Mile Podcast . “This is going to sound corny, but I’m getting ruder to people who approach me. Honestly, it’s tiring… Some people around me know, I don’t take pictures because it’s my time.
“I’ll sound rude again, but what can I do? If people can’t understand me, I understand everything, but it’s been 11-12 years and enough is enough. I feel better when someone tells me something, like you come to the zoo and take a picture of something.”
Although some sports stars love being role models for kids, Jokic doesn’t really understand it and doesn’t think it should be the case.
“Some people might not like it, but I don’t think they should be looking up to me. I’ve had both good and bad examples, but somehow I always knew deep down what was right, like, if I went outside at sixteen [years of age], I wouldn’t get drunk,” Jokic said.
“I don’t know if a public figure can really influence kids; that role belongs to friends and family. I don’t think I have that much influence on young people; people tell me, “They look up to you.” Well, they shouldn’t, I didn’t look up to others either. I disagree with people on this, even if my opinion might not be popular.”
He added, “When I arrived in Denver, I had Wilson Chandler and Jameer Nelson. Mike Miller was there too, though he was getting on in years. I often think of them; we even have a group chat and stay in touch. They were at the gym every single day; their mindset was simply, “I’m going to show up and get some work done.”
“I had really good role models, I just copied them. I didn’t have to be a genius. Over the years, you develop your own routine and find what works for you.”
Don’t ever change Joker.
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