Denver Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic has posted a triple-double in each of the Nuggets’ last three games — all wins.
The three-time NBA MVP most recently put up 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists in Denver’s 142-135 win against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, March 25.
How did Jokic celebrate?
By wearing Minions-themed Crocs to his postgame press conference, as captured by photographer Ryan Greene. The Nuggets reposted Greene’s photo and wrote, “Postgame fit aura.”
Jokic has long been likened to Gru, the villain from the highest-grossing animated franchise Despicable Me and its Minions spinoffs. Wednesday was far from the first time Jokic embraced the comparison.
In April 2024, Jokic showed up wearing a Gru-like chunky black-and-grey scarf for Game 1 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the game, Jokic confirmed his pregame outfit was a nod to Gru. “Yes, I love the guy, and I love the cartoon,” the one-time NBA champion and 2023 NBA Finals MVP told reporters. “Why not? Just have a little bit of fun, too.”
Earlier on April 20, 2024, Jokic had appeared in an Illumination promotional trailer for Despicable Me 4.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the second straight season. This year, Jokic is averaging 27.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game. Jokic leads the NBA in assists and rebounds.
The NBA playoffs start on April 18, and the Nuggets will look to avenge their Western Conference semifinal loss to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games last year.
For now, Jokic and the Nuggets (46-28) are jockeying to stay the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Denver will next host the Utah Jazz (21-52) and Golden State Warriors (35-38) on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Nuggets are 1.5 games behind the Lakers for the 3-seed, but Los Angeles won the season series 2-1, holding the tiebreaker. Denver has a half-game lead over the fifth-place Minnesota Timberwolves and went 3-1 against Minnesota this season.