DENVER — Nikola Jokic, the 7-foot Serbian drafted during a Taco Bell commercial nine years ago, smiled bashfully as he stood on stage Thursday in front of Denver City Hall.
In front of him stood throngs of adoring fans clad in worn-out jerseys, a visual timeline of beloved Denver Nuggets players who could never quite get over the hump: Carmelo Anthony and Dikembe Mutombo, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Nick Van Exel.
As the star center took the microphone, fans broke out in “MVP! MVP!” chants, pumping their fists.