13 June 2023 , 11:33
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic revealed he has asked Josh Kroenke for use of a private jet after their NBA Finals win.
The Nuggets claimed a 94-89 win over the Miami Heat to win Game Five of the NBA Finals and win the series 4-1. In doing so, it was the first time in franchise history that the Larry O’Brien Trophy will be heading to Denver
Jokic had missed out on winning the NBA MVP to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid last month after winning the award two years in a row. Instead, the 28-year-old won the Bill Russell Trophy after being named NBA Finals MVP.
The Serbian scored 151 points with 70 rebounds and 36 assists across the five games in the series against the Heat. Now Jokic will rest up in the early weeks of the off-season ahead of another busy year for the Nuggets beginning with training camp in September.
For now, the Nuggets are still in celebration mode, which will begin with a trophy parade taking place in downtown Denver on Thursday. However, Jokic has admitted that he will need to return to Serbia soon after the celebrations are concluded.
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Jokic is an avid horse racing enthusiast and owns a stable in his homeland in Serbian town Sombor. The Nuggets centre has said that he will need to return to his home country this weekend soon after the parade in Denver on Thursday.
Speaking to NBA TV, Jokic joked that he would ask Josh Kroenke, son of Stan Kroenke who owns the Nuggets, for use of a plane in order to fly to Serbia in time for this weekend. The Kroenke's who also own Arsenal Football Club, are certainly not short of money if they want to fulfil Jokic's expensive request.
"Yes! I need to go home," said Jokic. "Sunday's I have my horse racing. Maybe, I don't know how I'm going to arrive. Thursday, Friday maybe - I don't know.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets smiles in the final seconds of the fourth quarter during the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win over the Miami Heat at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) (AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)"I'm gonna ask Josh [Kroenke] to give me a plane! I put him under pressure, yes I did. I don't feel bad at all!"
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) purchased the Nuggets in 1999, more than a decade before acquiring Premier League outfit Arsenal. Stan Kroenke stills owns the club to this day, with his son, Josh, serving as a director on the club’s board.
Josh Kroenke is also the president of the Nuggets, and was joined by his father in celebrating the team’s NBA Finals triumph at Ball Arena on Monday. Whether he will actually permit Jokic to use a private plane in order to fly to Serbia after the celebration parade, though, remains to be seen.