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In Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ star player, encountered some challenges, including chants of “free throw merchant” from the crowd at the Paycom Center.
“Honestly, I didn’t even notice that, but it’s pretty amusing,” he remarked during a postgame press conference after a thrilling match on Monday.
The 30-year-old Serbian sensation has participated in significant international competitions globally and has been a dominant force in the NBA in recent years. He is familiar with performing in large arenas; however, his early experiences in Serbia were quite different.
The OKC crowd chanted “free throw merchant” while Jokic was at the charity stripe! pic.twitter.com/Lfn5Kiecpm
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)May 6, 2025
“I used to play in Serbia, even in small gyms with just 30 people, and you could hear everything,” he recalled, eliciting laughter from the press room. “Sometimes, that’s more challenging because you can actually see the person heckling you…”
“I’ve played in front of lots of fans. I’ve represented the national team and competed in various countries. It’s definitely a valuable experience, so I don’t let it bother me,” he continued, reflecting on the atmosphere in Oklahoma City.
Despite facing foul difficulties, the native of Sombor logged 42 minutes on the court, playing a crucial role in securing a 1-0 lead for the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Jokic delivered an impressive performance, recording a double-double with 42 points, 22 rebounds, in addition to six assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, with the series set to shift to the Ball Arena in Denver for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 during the following NBA Sunday.
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