Nikola Jokic returned to his hometown of Sombor in Serbia just in time to witness his cherished horses compete in a harness racing event, following his recent triumph in leading the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship.

Thousands of supporters gathered at the local horse racing track in Sombor, typically a quiet town of around 47,000 people, to join Jokic in enjoying the races featuring horses owned by his family. Many attendees wore T-shirts adorned with Jokic’s portrait and inspiring messages like ‘Be the Next Champion’ and ‘Sombor, the Town of Champions.’ A prominent billboard greeted Jokic with the message ‘Welcome Home MVP,’ depicting him in his No. 15 Nuggets jersey alongside galloping horses.

Despite concerns about returning in time from Denver’s victory parade, Jokic managed to make it for the races, joking beforehand about borrowing the Nuggets’ team plane from president Josh Kroenke. The day at the Sombor hippodrome was festive, with beer and barbecue stands bustling and attendees eagerly waiting in long lines to partake in the celebrations.

Jokic arrived at the track later than expected, accompanied by local media. Known for his reserved nature, he declined to speak with journalists as he entered the racetrack. Throughout the event, he appeared sporadically in the stands alongside his wife, daughter, brother, father, and friends. Jokic attentively watched every race involving his family’s stable before retreating from public view.

When Jokic initially appeared, wearing a polo shirt bearing the inscription ‘Dream Catcher’ in honor of his first horse purchase years ago, the crowd erupted in applause and joy. His father, Branislav Jokic, mentioned that Jokic preferred not to engage with the media after the recent intense publicity surrounding his NBA championship win.

According to Branislav Jokic, Nikola developed a deep passion for horses and horse racing in his youth, nearly leading him away from basketball during his childhood. Nikola Jokic played a pivotal role in Denver’s NBA title victory, culminating with a standout performance in the NBA Finals where he not only scored 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the championship-clinching game against the Miami Heat but also earned the NBA Finals MVP award.

Affectionately known as ‘Joker’ by his fans, Jokic’s playoff run was historic, making him the first player ever to lead the league in points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single postseason.