Years before he became the best player in the NBA, Nikola Jokic was an unknown second-round draft pick.
The Denver Nuggets selected the Serbian big man with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. At the time, few knew what Jokic was capable of, and we’re guessing that even the Nuggets never imagined he would become the dominant player that he has been for the last several seasons.
Famously, Jokic’s selection was so unheralded that it was made while a Taco Bell commercial aired on ESPN. That’s right, as the pick was announced live, ESPN showed footage of a promo for some type of cheesy taco concoction.
In a new interview with the Nuggets’ social media team, Jokic revealed that he has personally boycotted Taco Bell ever since that day.
“I think I’ve never had Taco Bell just because of that,” Jokic said.
Jokic says he has never eaten Taco Bell because of draft night 🤣 https://t.co/gk6ir1vty8 pic.twitter.com/WfwRxWV2ih
— Adam Mares (@Adam_Mares) February 22, 2025
Jokic and this author have something in common. I’ve actually never had Taco Bell either, but more so just because I never felt moved to try it as opposed to a major slight in my life being inextricably linked to the fast food chain.
Anyway, Jokic actually seems like he would be the perfect pitch man for Taco Bell, given his physique.
Maybe this is a sign for the restaurant to make things right and work out some type of deal with the three-time MVP.
Meanwhile, in his day job, Jokic is having his usual outstanding season. In 51 games, the supremely skilled center is averaging a triple-double: 29.4 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game.
Denver is currently 37-20 overall and in third place in the Western Conference, though their nine-game win streak was snapped Saturday night in a 123-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“We had the nine-game winning streak against teams that were injured, and teams that were not really good or high in the standings,” Jokic said after the loss. “So maybe we tricked ourselves into (thinking) that we are playing good.”
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