Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets came away victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1. After the 121-119 win, MVP finalist Jokić answered a postgame question about his will to get to the free throw line.
OKC Crowd Calls Out Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić put on a masterclass in Game 1. He dropped a jaw-dropping double-double with 42 points and 22 rebounds, and even added six assists and two blocks in his monster game. The three-time MVP became the fifth player to record a 40-20-5 stat line in a playoff game, joining Wilt Chamberlain (twice), Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shaquille O’Neal.
But during his dominant performance, Thunder fans made sure he heard their frustration. They shouted “free throw merchant” as he hit 10 of his 13 attempts from the line.
When asked about the OKC crowd’s trash talk, the Nuggets superstar said he didn’t hear it, but admitted, “That’s kind of funny.”
Nikola Jokic says he didn't hear the "Free throw merchant" chants but admits "that's kind of funny."
— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto)
What makes it even funnier is that the “free throw merchant” label was originally aimed at Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by NBA fans. Gilgeous-Alexander ranked second in the NBA in free throw attempts this season with 8.8 per game, while Jokić — now the “merchant” in OKC fans’ eyes — ranked seventh with 6.4 per game.
Nikola Jokić Is Used to Trash Talk From Fans
Jokić rarely shows emotion during games, especially at the free throw line, which helps him block out noise and deliver clutch performances like Game 1.
He’s talked before about playing in Serbia and how those experiences helped build his mental toughness.
“I played in Serbia in small gyms with 30 people, and you could hear everything they said. Sometimes I think that’s worse because you can see the guy who’s yelling at you,” Jokić said.
Maybe that kind of pressure is what helped the six-time All-Star become the NBA star he is today. As the saying goes, “Pressure makes diamonds.” That metaphor fits Jokić’s journey — from a second-round draft pick to one of the game’s greats.
A Look Ahead to Game 2
Oklahoma City may need to adjust their strategy after blowing a nine-point lead with three minutes left in Game 1. If the rest of the series is anything like the opener, we’re in for a wild second round. It all continues with Game 2 on May 7.
For a player as decorated as Jokić, Thunder fans might need to get more creative with the nicknames. “The Joker” doesn’t get rattled — if anything, he seems to enjoy the noise. Maybe the better approach is to stay quiet and root hard for OKC instead.
