Jokic interview in Serbian - Interesting points I took from the interview.
First sport - His first sport was basketball, which his brothers drew him into, as they were basketball players themselves. As a kid he played basketball at home where his brothers often pushed him around and were rough with him, so he would often cry when he lost. He thinks he is a combination of both of his brothers: the talent of one and the work habits of the other.
Realizing he could live from basketball - He realized he could live from basketball when he was accepted into KK Mega. There he saw that he could compete with other adult and good players, especially in the season when he was the MVP of the ABA League. He also had the chance to occasionally play with other EuroLeague clubs, which only strengthened his belief in himself. In line with other players who played in “young” teams in Serbia, he notes that he left the club having earned ~2000 Euros.
Players in KK Mega who left an impression on him - Bobi Marjanović and Novica Veličković. In general he thinks the NBA lacks veterans who will show young players how and what they should do, but he also thinks young players need to be ready to learn things themselves and not just be handed free reins.
About his own talent - He thinks his main skill is that he can quickly learn and repeat what coaches or teammates show him, whether it is a tactical play or a shot technique.
Draft and going to the NBA - He did not take the draft very seriously (he mentions his age, which was 17 at the time, being the main reason), which is why he slept during it while his brothers were celebrating. Before coming to the NBA, he did not actually watch it outside of NBA Action Highlights and some individual moves/plays, but from that he had a positive impression of it.
Summer League - Summer League is not a place where a center can show his skills, but rather for PGs/SGs who mostly get the chance to shoot and can hold the ball much longer. From the end of the Summer League until the start of team practices he was alone, without other players, in Denver, which helped him get used to the environment at his own pace. At that time he trained five times a week with the same people who are with him today, and he improved a lot physically.
Veterans who helped him - Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson and Darrell Arthur were players who were more direct role models for him, while Mike Miller showed him that you should treat basketball professionally - in Jokić’s memory he is always in a suit.
His behavior and attitude toward the game/other players - He thinks his upbringing is responsible for that, because they put him through many situations and showed him how to behave in them. At age 10 he went to Serbian pubs (kafana), where he says his father showed him how to drink, order a song, sing that same song, celebrate, but also respect the people around him and not make scenes. Because of that he has no problem shaking hands and congratulating opponents even after a tough loss. But in general he is an emotional person who cries from good songs, yells while watching teammates play when he is off the court, gets mad while losing etc.
On the other hand, he can be tedious when they are preparing for games. He says NBA players remember very little information about opposing teams, 5% according to him. Coaches criticized him (both in Serbia and in the NBA) because he tends to overload teammates with information about opponents. Scouting the opposing team and planning the game is half the work needed for a win.
Getting minutes - His biggest problems were his own speed and knowledge of the language and basketball terminology. A bit smaller on issue was adapting to the unfamiliar environment, that is, living in the USA and the different types of players/centers he has to guard. From AD to Gobert. In the second year he started getting more time on the court after it was noticed he was successful in the minutes he already had. From game to game he was given permission to do more and more things, from layups to three-pointers and finally plays that were made around him. The decision for him to become a starter was made by Malone after Jokić asked to go back to the bench following the unsuccessful experiment where he and Nurkić played together in the starting lineup.
Developing habits - Other players often describe him as a machine, that he has a routine he follows every day during the season. He had an initial workout he brought from KK Mega, but he perfected it by taking things from teammates over the years in Denver. Today he has 3 - 4 types of workouts he does depending on the day and the schedule of upcoming games and he does them no matter what. On the side, he says those players who stay after games to jack up shots they missed in game aren’t doing constructive things.
Difficulty of playing in the NBA - He says the NBA is by far the best basketball league in the world, with the best and most diverse players skill-wise. Anyone in Europe who claims that good defense is not played in the NBA either does not follow it or is ignorant. The main example is players who are semi-stars, or not stars at all, who dominate on their national teams: Nurkić, Avdija, Sengun, Schroder… Defense in the regular season is definitely weaker than in the playoffs, but that is the case in every league competition.
Number of NBA games - The larger number of games suits him because it is easier for him to maintain a rhythm. He always feels good on the court, so that was the part he missed the most after he got injured. The constant traveling and flying is a thing that bothers him.
Motivation for playing in the NBA - The desire to win comes from the good feeling on the court, wins, good team play, family - all of that motivates him. He says winning is a way of life, and when good things happen it pushes you to continue towards achieving them.
Segment about coaches - He says he had a good relationship with every coach he had. A game centered around him was created over the years by Malone, Chris Finch, and Adelman. He likes being criticized as long as he can be shown how to correct himself. If the coach cannot correct him, he should not bother criticizing.
Also mentions he was not involved in Malone’s firing. He did find out Malone was fired a bit before the other players. A funny story was when the owner came to talk with him about the team’s future direction (with Adelman or other HC), he found him opening eight bottles of tequila (which Vučević had sent him as a gift a few days earlier) and it looked like he was celebrating Malone’s departure.
About old legends - He does not understand their behavior and attitude toward younger generations. Every sport has progressed and become better over a span of 20-30 years. He says that in 20-30 years basketball will be even better than today. He’s also glad that he’ll probably retire before Wemby holds the entire league in a chokehold.
Jokić’s efficiency - The reasons for his efficiency are good shot selection (for example, out of 15 shots he will take 12 from practiced positions) and not forcing the game. He knows he can score 20-30 points in a quarter, but he thinks that in the long run it is better to play “the right way.”
Sports he follows - He loves 3x3 basketball and horse racing, and he also follows regular basketball (NBA and EuroLeague) as well as water polo during major tournaments. In the NBA he highlights that he watches and likes Anthony Edwards especially and then other Serbian players and coaches, Luka Dončić, and Oklahoma.