On a warm July Sunday at the Hippodrome in Subotica, Serbia, Nikola Jokic wasn’t the MVP of a basketball court but of the stables. The Denver Nuggets giant—renowned for his unflappable stoicism even in NBA Finals glory—broke down in tears as his prized horse, Demon Dell'Est, captured victory at the storied Dužijanac 2025 race.

Jokic’s eyes welled up the moment his horse surged across the finish line, a rare public display of emotion for a man often compared to a machine for his on-court composure.

This win, Jokic would later reveal, stirred in him “more emotion than any of my basketball triumphs.” He rushed the track fence, met both horse and team in a tight embrace, and uncorked a jubilant champagne celebration. It was an outpouring of joy that quickly went viral, drawing contrast to his understated celebration after the Nuggets’ own NBA championship.

A Lifelong Love Deeper than Baskets

Jokic’s devotion to horse racing isn’t newfound. Since childhood, the Serbian has split his calendar between the hardwood and the paddock, crediting his family's humble hometown stable for teaching him life’s greatest lessons.

Even as a three-time MVP, Jokic is known to spend summers in Sombor, trading jump shots for careful handiwork in the stables. He’s described racing as “the best sport in the world,” often confessing in interviews that the camaraderie and thrill at the racetrack outweigh even his greatest on-court moments.

After previous playoff runs, Jokic bypassed NBA parades, eager to return home for racing season—a devotion his coaches and teammates have come to respect and even celebrate. This summer’s win cemented that reputation, reminding fans and critics alike that his heart beats loudest for his horses, not his hardware.

Humanity Beyond Heroics

For all his athletic dominance, it’s Jokic’s vulnerability that has struck a chord with fans around the world. As videos circulated of his champagne-soaked celebration and streaming tears, social media buzzed: perhaps, in these precious off-court moments, Nikola Jokic is living his truest self. Here, the world’s best basketball player becomes just another hopeful at the track, chasing the rush of a perfect finish and the deep satisfaction only his horses bring.

In Serbia, as in Denver, the legend of Jokic continues to grow. But at the Hippodrome, surrounded by friends, family, and the horses he loves, he found a victory and a joy all his own.