Nikola Jokić isn’t just relaxing this offseason—he’s winning, too. But this time, it’s his horse doing the work. The Nuggets star just picked up a harness racing victory, adding to his growing legacy in a totally different arena.
A video shared by Nuggets reporter Katy Winge quickly went viral, capturing the 3x MVP and his crew erupting with excitement as they watched the finish, complete with sweeping aerial shots and tight close-ups of the race that had everyone on their feet.
Jokić’s love for horses goes way beyond competition—it’s something personal. Growing up in Serbia, his family kept several horses, and he’s even said the sound of them eating is “the best sound in the world,” as reported by HoopsSocial. Right after signing with Denver in 2016, he bought his first racehorse and named it Dream Catcher. This isn’t just a hobby—it’s part of who he is.
And while Jokić enjoys his well-earned victory lap, the Nuggets front office is navigating a far more complicated situation. Here’s the deal: after trading Dario Saric to Sacramento, Denver landed Jonas Valanciunas—but things got messy fast. According to ESPN, the Nuggets told Valanciunas’s reps they expect him to honor the two years of his NBA contract the final one being non-guaranteed.
The 33-year-old reportedly traveled to Athens to meet with Greek club Panathinaikos, hoping to make a move there. But for that to happen, he’d need a buyout from Denver, and that hasn’t happened yet. The trade still isn’t official, as both teams need to complete physicals and sort out salary cap details—and since Jonas is in Europe, that might take a few days.
Nikola Jokić winning even in the off-season.
A horse-racing victory!
pic.twitter.com/0aKhXNNMUg
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) July 6, 2025
(This is a developing story…)
The post Nikola Jokic’s Offseason Achievement Thrills NBA Community Amid Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas Situation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
