From the Golden Boot to a broken heart in the Champions League

The Cruel Fate of the Joker: From the Golden Boot to the Broken Heart in the Champions League

Nikola Jokic, the NBA MVP, relives old wounds with Barça in a European final marked by destiny and the “gunners”.

Life sometimes has a sense of humor as twisted as a champion's nickname. Nikola Jokic, the Serbian colossus who dominates the NBA courts with astonishing ease, shares a peculiar connection, almost love-hate, with the Barcelona Football Club. A story that, to the surprise of many, goes back to his childhood and a goal that scored an entire generation of Arsenal fans.

Young Nikola, just an 11-year-old boy in 2006, felt the colors of Arsenal. His devotion to the London club had a name: Thierry Henry. The French forward, with his magic and speed, captivated little Jokic. However, that same year, fate wove a cruel plot. Juliano Belletti's goal in the Champions League final, which sealed the second 'Orejona' for Barça, was a direct dagger to the hearts of all Arsenal fans, including a future NBA MVP.

Twenty years later, life offered Jokic an opportunity for revenge, or at least, to experience the glory of his beloved Arsenal. In the recent final of the top European competition, the Denver Nuggets center was in the stands, vibrating like any other fan. Kai Havertz's goal, which put Mikel Arteta's team ahead, unleashed euphoria in the Serbian. It seemed that history would be rewritten in favor of the “gunners”.

But football, like life, is unpredictable. The former Barcelona player Ousmane Dembélé, with a touch of irony of fate, achieved the tie. And, in a penalty shootout that kept the world in suspense, Luis Enrique's team emerged victorious. Another blow for Nikola Jokic, another Champions League final that ended with a bitter taste, this time, despite his love for Arsenal.

Jokic was not the only familiar face on that heart-stopping night. Along with him, another NBA star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, shared the expectation of a final with a strong Barça accent on the benches. The presence of both, champions of the most important league in world basketball, added an extra shine to the evening.

Jokic's connection with Barça could have been much deeper, almost tangible. A little over a decade ago, the Catalan club was about to incorporate the Serbian into its ranks. In 2014, when he was barely 19 years old and playing for Mega Belgrade, a Barça delegation traveled to watch him. However, fate, once again, played its part. The center had a discreet performance, a game that did not live up to his potential, just on the day that the culés scouts were present.

That mediocre performance made FC Barcelona postpone its decision. A waiting time that turned out to be crucial. The Denver Nuggets, attentive to the opportunity, burst onto the scene and snapped up the young talent, selecting him 41st in the 2014 draft. Just two weeks after Luis Enrique was announced as the new coach of Barça's first soccer team.

Jokic himself, in an interview given to MD during the last All-Star, reflected on that frustrated signing. “I just had one bad game and they thought 'ok, we're just going to postpone it' and it never happened again. You know, it happens. But, to be honest, I'm glad I didn't go there, although they are incredible, probably one of the best teams in Europe, one of the biggest teams in Europe. But I think I made my own way,” the player confessed.

These words, although recognizing the greatness of Barça, were a subtle snub to the Barça club. Openly declaring his satisfaction at not having signed for one of the most prestigious entities in the world revealed an independence of judgment and a path chosen with conviction.

Arsenal's influence on Jokic's life extends to his time with the Nuggets, thanks to the figure of Stanley Kroenke. This American magnate is the owner of both the English club and the Denver franchise, weaving a network of sporting interests that unites continents.

Kroenke, an investor with an insatiable appetite for success, owns an impressive portfolio of sports teams. In addition to the Nuggets and Arsenal, he owns the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, the Colorado Rapids of MLS and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League. With all of them, he has achieved glory, conquering leagues in various disciplines. Even the Arsenal women's team, under his ownership, has tasted the honey of the Champions League last year, after precisely beating Barça in the final.

However, the top European competition remains a pending issue for the Arsenal men's team. Despite having won the Premier League 22 years later, the Champions League eludes them, becoming a thorn in the Gunners' recent history.

Paradoxically, Jokic's youth idol, Thierry Henry, the reason he became an Arsenal fan, managed to win that coveted 'Orejona' in 2009, but he did so wearing the Barça shirt, the same club with which the “Joker” was about to sign.

The last Champions League final, with its particular bench duel, stands as the epitome of the complex relationship between Nikola Jokic and the Barça club. Mikel Arteta, a former Barça player, led his Arsenal to European glory, but it was Luis Enrique, another former culé, who snatched the dream of the first Champions League from the “gunners” on a heart-stopping night. Fate, once again, presented itself with its usual irony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Nikola Jokic an Arsenal fan?

Nikola Jokic became an Arsenal fan in his childhood, inspired by the figure of the legendary French striker Thierry Henry.

What goal scored to Jokic's heart in 2006?

Juliano Belletti's goal in the 2006 Champions League final, which gave FC Barcelona victory against Arsenal, was the one that broke young Jokic's heart.

Was Nikola Jokic close to signing for FC Barcelona?

Yes, in 2014, FC Barcelona was on the verge of signing Nikola Jokic when he was playing for Mega Belgrade, but a discreet performance on the day of the visit by the culé scouts frustrated the operation.

Who took Nikola Jokic in the NBA draft?

The Denver Nuggets selected Nikola Jokic 41st overall in the 2014 NBA draft, shortly after Barça declined to sign him.

What did Jokic say about his possible signing for Barça?

Jokic expressed that, although Barça is a great club, he is happy to have followed his own path and not have signed for them.

Who is Stanley Kroenke?

Stanley Kroenke is an American tycoon who owns several sports teams, including the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and Arsenal FC.

Has Arsenal men won the Champions League?

No, despite having recently won the Premier League, the men's Arsenal have yet to win the Champions League.

What relationship does Thierry Henry have with Barça?

Thierry Henry, Jokic's childhood idol and former Arsenal player, won the Champions League in 2009 with FC Barcelona.

Who were the coaches in the last mentioned Champions League final?

Mikel Arteta led Arsenal and Luis Enrique was on the bench of the winning team, both with pasts at FC Barcelona.

What other teams does Stanley Kroenke own?

In addition to the Nuggets and Arsenal, Kroenke owns the Los Angeles Rams (NFL), the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Mammoth (National Lacrosse League).

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