Jokić pushed him out of the team, he had to leave Denver, and now he's spoken openly for the first time about his relationship with the Serb!

Pulse Sports Team 10:57 - 03 June 2026

Jusuf Nurkić, once the starting center for the Denver Nuggets, has finally clarified the nature of his relationship with Nikola Jokić, who took over his starting spot, fueling years of rivalry speculation.

For a long time, the public believed there was animosity between the two basketball players, especially after Nurkić left Denver. Rumors circulated that their matchups were filled with particular tension and that Nurkić still harbored bitterness towards his former club. However, the truth is quite different.

Appearing on Edin Avdić's "X&O's" podcast, Nurkić directly debunked all rumors, emphasizing that there are no issues between him and Jokić.

Jokić and I were teammates for a relatively short period, but during that time, we played together more often in practice than against each other. In sports, it's always best to compete against the best, but there was mutual respect between us, both as people and as basketball players. Now, as for our careers, they've simply taken different paths, Nurkić stated.

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian center played for the Denver Nuggets from 2014 to 2017. Afterward, he continued his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played until 2023 and found an environment that suited him better. Besides Portland, he also had stints with the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets, and spent the previous season with the Utah Jazz, where he delivered strong performances, averaging 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

Nurkić's future remains uncertain, with media speculating about a potential return to Europe and a EuroLeague appearance, although staying in the NBA remains an option.