Nikola Jokic On The Matchup vs Bam, Facing Tim Duncan As a Rookie | 2023 NBA Finals Preview | May 31

We'll take questions here around the room. We'll go, Rachel, first question back right on one. Hey, Nicola, over here. First NBA Finals, congratulations. Thank you. What do you remember from when you were a kid, teenager? What was the NBA Finals matchup that you saw that really affected you that said, man, I want to do that one day? I don't even know. Like back in the days, I don't remember, to be honest. Maybe I remember when Dallas won the championship, Miami, I remember San Antonio winning it. But to be honest, I don't even remember the opponents. It was Miami-San Antonio, right? In Miami when Ray Allen hit a big shot here. I remember that one. To be honest, I don't remember. I remember recently when I got in the league, but I don't remember when I was growing up because it was really hard to follow, to be honest, first, and I was following your league and your basketball. When you were a kid and on the blacktop and trying to take, did you pretend in the driveway or in the blacktop that you were taking that last shot to win a championship? Of course, I think everybody did that, even Cody probably did that. So, you know, three, two, one, and last second trying to make a shot. Everybody did that, probably in their life. Shane here in the front. Shane Owen, Ford Sports. Nicola, what stands out to you about the matchup with Bam and, I guess, what do you see when you see him play and how that challenge is going to be in the series? I think it's not Bam against me or whatever. I think it's Denver against Miami. And just because I think we kind of have a similar playstyle. We are getting everybody involved. We like to play with team basketball. So it's not going to be me against him or anybody against anybody. You see, it's going to be a Miami against a Denver. And I think that's why it's going to be interesting. Here in the front row, on your right. Nicola, hi, Ronan Dofton, Israel Today. You come from the town of Radovoi Korach. That's sort of a line, Korach, Chosic, Pražan, Korach. Do you feel you're representing this culture of what was Yugoslavia, now Serbia? To be honest, I think I cannot say that. But that can say someone who is older and who remembers them to play or play with them or just knowing them or watching them play. But yes, Radovoi Korach is from my hometown. But I don't know, can we be compared or whatever? So I think that's somebody older who remembers them and who did something probably in the basketball in Yugoslavia or Serbia or whatever. But that's a good question. Thank you. Melissa. Hey, Nicola. Coach keeps comparing you to Tim Duncan and your unselfishness. How much did you look up to Tim when you were growing up? And did you actually pinpoint that selfishness and say, hey, I want to model my game after that? And model my game, probably, yes. Yes, probably he's one of the best, powerful players that played the game. And he did with such ease. It's really, really, I remember when he played against me, he was a little bit older, but he still gave me the easiest 20 points ever in life, probably. He always had a counter, he was so patient. And I think he's a great player to look up to and to model your game to him. Standing on your left back here. Paulina, NBA Mexico. How was the wait for you and the team to get to know your rival? And was this an advantage or a disadvantage for you? We're going to see tomorrow. But yes, we were waiting. But I think we took a good professional approach to those eight days, nine days, 10 days, whatever it was. Just because it's actually a long break. I think we did a good job. We stay in shape, getting ready, staying sharp, but still get enough rest. But about the opponent, we're going to see tomorrow. Is that true or I'm lying? Tim, back right. Tim Reynolds with the AP. Nicola, you got an opportunity to meet the other Nicola in this series, I guess, earlier this season. What did it mean to you that that meant so much to him, a chance to interact with you and have dinner with you? And what do you know about his game? And I guess, was there any wisdom that you tried to share with him when you got to meet him? He was playing in the same team that I played back in Serbia. And one of his coaches was my godfather who worked there. And he told me, I think, a year before he's going to get drafted, that he's actually a really good player and a really good person, that he's really working hard and can have a talent to be an NBA player. So I know him before I actually met him a little bit. I never watched him play, to be honest, just little highlights, but never like a full game or whatever. But he needs to say that, brother. I mean, he's got what he's going to say. I don't want to meet him. So yes, good guy, good person. I saw that he's getting bigger, working, you know, so we're going to see if he's going to get an opportunity to play. But I believe he has a lot to offer. Matt, over here on the left. Matt Moore, Matt Moore Action Network. Nicola, I've asked you through the years about being the best player on this team, and you've always resisted that label, even through the MVP years. I was curious if you feel like being the best player in a superstar league, if that matters in basketball, or if you feel like it doesn't matter because of how you look at the game, being the best player. I'm confused. But it's hard to say because, you know, sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not, and I'm cool with that, and I think everybody else are good with that. So, you know, I think the way how we play, everybody can step up, and everybody can be a best player in one game or whatever week or whatever. So, I don't know, I don't know, can I say myself as a best player? You know, the ball is in my hands a lot, so I make a lot of decisions. So, but I don't know, can I be the best player? Nicola, on your right, over here. Boa tarde, Fabio Malavaz from Brazil. My question is, throughout the year, even especially in the playoffs, you guys, you know, pictured by the media as an underdog, and, you know, you, the coach, have been talking about that. How do you feel now that you're, Frank, the favorite to win the finals, and what that changed for you? Who said that we are favorites? The media? And Las Vegas told us that we are not, we were underdog before. That doesn't, it's not correct, I think. I mean, I think we are not the favorites. I think in the finals, there is no favorites. This is gonna be the hardest game of our life, and we know that, and we are prepared for that. We are preparing and prepare for that. So, I think there is no favorites, and definitely, I think we are not favorites in this series. I think they are not, either. I think it's just the finals, you know. There is no favorites in the finals, in my opinion. Then, Adam. Mike Singer, Denver Post. Nicola, it looked like you were out on the court joking around, right here. It looked like you were out on the court joking around a little bit. I think I even saw you maybe give a middle finger to one of your teammates. How much fun is this stage for you? I know you don't really like the attention, but it seems like you're kind of embracing it. No, it was a shooting competition game, and the bigs against the small, and I think we won it in the end, and that's why I just, to be honest, I do that every time. So, when we win, of course. So, you know, just to talk trash a little bit. Why not? On the right. Oh, good job. Nicola, Om Young, ESPN. Jamal was talking about how you've seen every defense and handled every wrinkle that's come your way, and you were just talking about you have the ball in your hands a lot, you have to make decisions. If Miami throws a zone at you, how does that impact your decision making? How does that affect your handoffs with Jamal and your passing lanes? My friend, you're gonna see tomorrow, but we saw the zone, definitely. We didn't see this kind of zone because they are switching zones, and they're really, really messing up the game in their favor, and we just need to be focused and solid in what we are doing, because that's why they're great, that's why they're winning, that's why they're in the finals. They are messing the game in their way, and they're doing that really good. I don't know how it's gonna affect me. We're gonna see tomorrow. Maybe we're gonna have 10 turnovers, maybe we're gonna have 10 points. We will see more assists. Thank you, guys. Pleasure to call it.