Carmelo Anthony has sounded off against his former team, the Denver Nuggets, about their decision to give Nikola Jokic his old number. “When you think of 15 in Denver now, to this generation, you thinking Joker. I’m like, ‘F-ck is going on? 15?’” Melo told the 7am in Brooklyn podcast. Furthermore, Melo called the move “petty”.
Melo spent eight years in Denver to begin his NBA career. However, after a string of playoff misses and one-and-done first-round exits, Melo announced that he would be exploring free agency when his contract expired in 2011. However, rather than let him walk, the Nuggets traded Melo to the Knicks. Before coming to the NBA, Jokic also wore No. 15 in Serbia.
Carmelo Anthony “Throwback” Performance Blows Jadakiss Away
However, during a separate appearance on 7am in Brooklyn, Melo got a chance to share some love for a close friend. As Jadakiss gave Usher his flowers for his recently-ended Vegas residency, he also mentioned that he still fondly remembered his time working with Usher. A moment later, Anthony was dropping a perfect cover of Kiss’ verse from that collaboration, “Throwback”. “He killed it!” Jadakiss exclaimed once Anthony had powered through the verse. You can watch Melo’s impromptu performance below. Let us know in the comments what you thought of Melo’s performance.
Jadakiss and Melo have been friends for most of Anthony’s professional basketball career. After Melo retired in May, Kiss was sure to honor his close friend. As Jadakiss began his performance at an Air Jordan event in July, he played audio from the 2003 NBA Draft, specifically the announcement of Melo going third overall to the Nuggets. Melo was in the crowd and was evidentially touched by the unorthodox shoutout. Kiss has also referred to Anthony as his “little brother” on numerous occasions during their friendship. Furthermore, Kiss’ son previously called his dad the “Melo of the [music] industry”, drawing yet another parallel between the pair.
3.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the ball was inbounded to Nikola Jokic at three-quarters court. He dribbled to the Chase Center logo near the Warriors bench, lifted over Kevon Looney and gamed the Golden State Warriors.
The Denver Nuggets outlasted Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a Thursday night on TNT thriller 130-127. Jokic dropped 34 points on 13-of-15 shooting, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Additionally, Aaron Gordon had 30 points and Jamal Murray added 25.
“That was the last option with that play,” Jokic said. “I just took a shot. I think those shots are the easiest shots to take. You don’t have any other options. So actually, when I felt it, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to bank this.’ You can see the flight of the ball, and I just knew I was going to bank it.”
On the other end of the court, Curry dropped 30 and Klay Thompson added 24.
You can see Jokic’s interview with Inside the NBA and highlights below.
Nikola Jokic has tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record for the most “perfect” triple-double – a triple-double with perfect shooting. Jokic’s 26/14/10 night with 11-for-11 shooting helped the Nuggets halt the four-game run of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies had appeared unstoppable since the return of Ja Morant. However, the performance marked Jokic’s third such triple-double, tying the long-standing mark set by Chamberlain. The only other player in NBA history to record multiple “perfect” triple-doubles is Draymond Green with two.
However, Jokic was humble when speaking about the game. “It’s a miss and make game. Of course, sometimes you miss, sometimes you make. Today I made all of my shots. It’s not going to be a lot of those nights,” Jokic said. However, Jokic sat out the last 1:31 of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter after achieving the stats needed for the triple-double. Furthermore, head coach Mike Malone echoed Jokic’s comments. “[Jokic] was 11-for-11 tonight. He doesn’t care about that. If Jamal has got it going, he’s clapping for Jamal. He takes more joy in his teammates’ success [than his own], and that’s the true definition of being selfless. And he lives it every day,” Malone said.
Dwight Howard Claims His Prime Was Better Than Nikola Jokic
While Jokic consistently finds himself in rare company, there are those who don’t see him as a true GOAT. “So, people look at that and say, “Well, Jokić, he scores and does all this stuff.” And no offense, I think he’s great. I love Jokić, I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to hate even comparing, but I’m going to take myself. I know how dominant I was and I know what I could do with my skills. And on the defensive end and on the offensive end I was quick enough to get past everybody,” Dwight Howard told Complex in July.
Furthermore, he continued to expound on how he compared to Jokic. “So, I didn’t necessarily have to use skill moves and stuff like that all the time to score. I use my speed a lot, I use power to finesse or sometimes speed to finish with power. I just had an array of different things but people just remember seeing me dunk the ball on people’s head. And I love Jokić and I’m happy for him. I think he’s one of the best centers that ever played the game on basketball. [But] I’m Dwight Howard. I know what I’ve done in this league.” At the time of writing, Howard has 19485 points (55th) and 10476 rebounds (10th). Jokic has 12897 points (227th) and 6669 rebounds (137th).
What is sports without athletes? 2023 was full of performances that wowed, defied, and defined their individual sports. As the year winds down, HotNewHipHop is here to reflect on some of the athletes that we feel defined the last year of sport.
10. Erling Haaland
The big question in the summer of 2022 was where Norwegian soccer superstar Erling Haaland was going to go after leaving Borussia Dortmund. The answer ended up being Manchester City, where Haaland proceeded to redefine individual success in England (and European football). Manchester City achieved a historic treble behind Haaland’s record-breaking 52 goals in all competitions. Jump ahead to the start of the 2023-24 season and Haaland already has another 17 goals. There are few soccer players on the planet as in form as Erling Haaland.
9. LeBron James
While the 2022-23 season wasn’t LeBron’s best, it was certainly historic. In February, the veteran NBA star became the league’s all-time scorer, surpassing the mark set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1989. In November, LeBron became the first player in league history to surpass 39,000 career points. Furthermore, the 2023-24 season saw LeBron join the elite group of just five other players who played at least 21 seasons in the league. Additionally, age doesn’t appear to have dulled LeBron’s instincts as he continues to play at an elite level on a potential contender team.
8. Sha’Carri Richardson
Sha’Carri Richardson roared back onto the track in 2023. That began with running the fourth-fastest women’s 100m in history in April. The following month, she set a new meet record in Doha as she claimed her first Diamond League title. Arguably her peak came in August as she captured gold in the 100m at the World Championships in Budapest. While she missed out on a medal at the Diamond League Final, Richardson undoubtedly set herself up to be a gold medal favorite at the Olympics next year.
7. Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen has once again been in a league of his own when it comes to Formula 1. With a record 19 race wins, and a record-breaking 10 in a row, Verstappen cruised to a second consecutive title. To put an even finer point on things, Verstappen is over 270 points clear of the second-place driver, Sergio Pérez. Verstappen has redefined the meaning of success in motorsport and is set for a long period of dominance in the years to come.
6. Jake Paul
The world of boxing saw a lot of great fights and fighters this year. However, few achieved the visibility of Jake Paul. Paul continued his trend of cherry-picking big-name fights with marquee opponents. However, he opened the year with a fight against actual boxer Tommy Fury. That ended up being the first loss of Paul’s career, while also highlighting that Paul could hold his own against real boxers. That said, he immediately turned around and challenged former UFC fighter Nate Diaz. While the fight wasn’t as much of a tomato can as people thought it would be, it still didn’t push Paul. He will close out his biggest year yet with a fight against established boxer Andre August in December.
5. Simone Biles
After two years away from gymnastics, Simone Biles made an explosive return to the sport in 2023. It all started with a stunning return at the US Championships. That earned Biles a place at the World Championships in Belgium. Biles came away with four golds and a silver, as well as a qualification berth at the Olympics next year. Biles made an inspiring return to the sport that she loves, and showed that she hadn’t lost a single shred of the talent that helped her define it. All this sets up is another chance for Biles to redefine the sport in Paris next summer.
4. Shohei Ohtani
Even those who don’t follow baseball know who Shohei Ohtani is. The Japanese two-way star is so prolific that several outlets set up running trackers of all the historic things that Ohtani did during the season. Sadly, the Angels were once again terrible, meaning that Ohtani’s unanimous MVP season was ultimately wasted. However, he is now set to become a free agent with a value in excess of $500 million. No one is playing baseball like Shohei.
3. Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark may have been the National Player of the Year, but Angel Reese was undoubtedly the star of college basketball this year. From her record-breaking double-double streak to hitting the “You Can’t See Me” in the National Championship Game, Reese stole the spotlight. However, things didn’t end with LSU’s title. Reese immediately began a beef with the First Lady. Before she mysteriously took an absence from the team, Reese opened the 2023-24 season with double-doubles in her first three games and was well on her way to a fourth before she got benched against Kent State.
2. Patrick Mahomes
Heading up the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes more than earned his MVP award for the 2022 season. Last season, Mahomes threw for over 5200 yards and 41 touchdowns. That culminated with Mahomes leading a second-half comeback against the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Jumping ahead to the start of the 2023 season, Mahomes is already having another great season as the Chiefs look well on their way to another Super Bowl.
1. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is perhaps one of the most fascinating athletes of the modern NBA. And a big part of what makes him so fascinating is how much Jokic appears to hate being one of the faces of the NBA. He is a man who plays some of the best basketball in the world but has no interest in participating in the media circus, or really any basketball that he’s not legally contracted to play. Jokic is a man who would rather race horses in his home country of Serbia than play in the offseason. But despite this, he powered the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title and was arguably snubbed for his third consecutive MVP award. There really isn’t a player quite like Nikola Jokic.
Do you agree with our list? Did we miss your favorite athlete? Let us know in the comments. 2024 promises to be another exceptional year. Will someone knock Mahomes and Jokic from their thrones? Who will shine at the Olympics in Paris next July? It’s going to take a lot to top the excitement of 2023, but 2024 might just be the year to do it.
Nikola Jokic, the Serbian professional basketball player, has been making waves in the NBA since his debut in 2015. Known for his exceptional skills and unique style of play, Jokic has quickly risen to become one of the most influential players in the league. His journey from a second-round draft pick to an NBA superstar is nothing short of inspiring. But, what does this success translate to in terms of net worth? As of 2023, it’s estimated that Jokic’s net worth stands at a staggering $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Jokic’s net worth is a testament to his talent and hard work. The majority of his wealth comes from his lucrative NBA contracts. In 2018, he signed a five-year contract with the Denver Nuggets worth $148 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league. This contract alone significantly contributed to his current net worth.
In addition to his NBA salary, Jokic also earns a substantial income from endorsements. He has partnered with several high-profile brands, including Western Union and Nike, further boosting his earnings. While the exact figures from these deals are not publicly disclosed, they undoubtedly add a significant amount to his net worth.
Jokic’s financial portfolio extends beyond the basketball court and endorsement deals. Like many athletes, he has invested in various ventures, diversifying his income sources. While the details of these investments remain private, they undoubtedly contribute to his impressive net worth.
Jokic’s financial success is a direct reflection of his impact on the court. His unique playing style, characterized by his exceptional passing ability and versatile scoring, has revolutionized the center position in the NBA. His performances have not only earned him a lucrative contract but also the respect and admiration of fans and fellow players alike.
In 2021, Jokic’s outstanding performances were recognized when he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). This accolade further solidified his status as one of the league’s top players and undoubtedly increased his marketability, leading to more lucrative endorsement deals.
At just 28 years old, Jokic’s career is far from over. With several years left in his prime, his net worth is likely to continue to grow, especially after leading the Nuggets to victory in the 2022-2023 season. As he continues to perform at a high level, more endorsement deals and investment opportunities are likely to come his way.
Moreover, when his current contract with the Denver Nuggets expires, Jokic will likely command an even larger salary. Given his status as one of the NBA’s top players, teams will undoubtedly be willing to pay a premium to secure his services.
Nikola Jokic’s net worth of $50 million in 2023 is a testament to his talent, hard work, and impact on the NBA. His journey from a second-round draft pick to an NBA superstar is a story of perseverance and dedication. As he continues to dominate on the court, his net worth is only expected to rise. Jokic is not just a star player in the NBA; he is also a successful businessman, making strategic investments and endorsement deals that contribute to his wealth. His story is an inspiration to aspiring athletes around the world.
Dwight Howard is nothing if not a workhorse basketball player. The first overall pick in 2004, he went on to have a dominant career in the NBA. Eight-time all-star, five-time all-NBA first team, a championship in 2020. Furthermore, his defense was truly elite. He won back-to-back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards and made four all-defensive first teams. Add in an Olympic gold medal and a host of other accolades and you have a first-ballot Hall of Famer right there.
However, Howard isn’t technically retired. Starting in 2022, Howard has been playing in the Taiwanese League. At the end of his first season, he had captured an all-star nod and Most Valuable Import. He also earned first-team honors for both the league as a whole and all-defense. However, Howard is now making some bold claims about Nikola Jokić.
Howard Claims Better Prime Than Jokic
Howard went off while speaking to Complex. “Obviously, people going to say Jokić can score. He got all those offensive skills. But at the same time, I was getting 38 and 20, 45-18, 19, 20, and I’m doing all this with twos. No threes, all twos. I’m doing this with lobs. I’m not getting a lot of post-up attempts like Jokic. He’s getting way more opportunities I would say. And I was just in a different era. So, people look at that and say, “Well, Jokić, he scores and does all this stuff.” And no offense, I think he’s great. I love Jokić, I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to hate even comparing, but I’m going to take myself. I know how dominant I was and I know what I could do with my skills. And on the defensive end and on the offensive end I was quick enough to get past everybody.”
He continued. “So, I didn’t necessarily have to use skill moves and stuff like that all the time to score. I use my speed a lot, I use power to finesse or sometimes speed to finish with power. I just had an array of different things but people just remember seeing me dunk the ball on people’s head. And I love Jokić and I’m happy for him. I think he’s one of the best centers that ever played the game on basketball. [But] I’m Dwight Howard. I know what I’ve done in this league.” At the time of writing, Howard has 19485 points (55th) and 10476 rebounds (10th). Jokić has 12054 points (273rd) and 6273 rebounds (165th).
Dennis Rodman is one of the biggest icons in NBA history. From being a member of the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons to helping Jordan cement his legacy in Chicago. The history of the NBA cannot be told without a chapter on the outspoken Hall of Famer. Recently, the former Bulls star tossed out another opinion that is sure to ignite a certain fanbase in Boston. Maybe even the entire NBA fanbase as a whole. When discussing Larry Bird, Rodman didn’t hold back his feelings on how Bird would be perceived in today’s game.
In a sitdown interview with ‘VLADTV‘ Rodman shared his feelings on how Bird’s game would translate to the style of today. “If Larry Bird played in this era, I think he’d be in Europe… I think [Nikola Jokic] from Denver is way better than him.” That comment will for sure make headlines this week. However, Rodman’s context may help others understand what he is saying. Check out the quote in a clip from the interview below.
The multi-time NBA champion acknowledges the greatness of Bird in his time. However, Rodman believes the game has evolved so much that very few could handle the style of play today. But saying one of the greatest of all time couldn’t hack it now might be a little bit of a stretch. Bird is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever step on the hardwood. With championships and numerous other accolades to back up his play, Bird being a slouch in today’s game would be hard to imagine.
However, Rodman is one of the former players with a strong belief in how far the game has come. Including having high praise for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Jokic and the Nuggets just capped off a historic season with an NBA title. However, Jokic failed in his quest to three-peat for the NBA MVP Award. So, do you agree with Dennis Rodman that many of the greats from the past couldn’t perform today? Or do you believe Larry’s game would translate in a massive way? Let us know in the comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.
After winning the NBA Finals it seemed Nikola Jokic had no greater interest than going home. In a viral press conference, Jokic was shocked that the parade date would stall him from going home to his horses. At the actual parade, Jokic was singing a different tune.
“You know that I told that I don’t want to stay on parade, but I fucking want to stay on parade. This is the best,” Jokic said. “This is amazing.”
The Nuggets celebrated their first-ever NBA title with a parade through the streets of Denver on June 15. The title came after a dominant season in which the Nuggets won 53 games. Serbian star Nikola Jokić, the Finals MVP, was crucial to the team’s success, with a historic playoff and Finals performance. The Nuggets selected Jokić 41st overall in the 2014 draft and head coach Michael Malone played a crucial role in turning him into a two-time MVP and team pillar.
However, much has been made of Jokić’s seemingly unenthusiastic reaction to winning an NBA title. Furthermore, images of Jokić almost forcing himself to have a good time during the team’s post-game celebrations have emerged online. It’s been very, very funny. Despite this, it’s unfair to say that Jokić isn’t happy he won an NBA championship. Instead, he doesn’t need all the media attention and pomp. He did his job, won a championship. Now he wants to go home and enjoy his time off. Jokić typically spends his offseasons in Serbia.
However, all of Jokić’s stoicism and lack of enthusiasm were gone by the time he took the mic at Civic Park. “Today is the best day of my fucking life,” Jokić declared to the crowd of thousands. Furthermore, Jokić backtracked on previous comments that implied he didn’t want to stay for the parade. “You know that I told [you] that I don’t want to stay and parade, but I fucking want to stay and parade.”
Malone also joined in the profanity when it was his turn to talk. “We’re running this shit back!” Malone said, eliciting raucous cheers from the crowd. The speeches were just some of the wild moments of the parade. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope engaged fans in a beer-chugging contest, going viral as he dual-fisted beer cans. Meanwhile, rookie Christian Braun, just the sixth player to win NCAA and NBA titles in back-to-back years, greeted fans with a replica WWE belt. However, not everything was a positive experience. A police officer was injured when he was struck by one of the fire engines carrying the team. Elsewhere, a double shooting occurred 1.5 miles from the end of the parade. However, despite these events, it was an unforgettable day in Denver.
Nikola Jokić is not only the MVP of the NBA Finals but also of our hearts. The Denver Nuggets center has gone viral multiple times for his less-than-enthusiastic reaction to becoming the NBA champion. Furthermore, images of Jokić almost forcing himself to have a good time during the team’s post-game celebrations have emerged online. That’s not to say that Jokić isn’t happy he won an NBA championship. Instead, Jokić is just truly the basketball player’s basketball player. He doesn’t need all the media attention and pomp. He did his job, won a championship. Now he wants to go home and enjoy his time off.
To cap off a historic playoff performance, Jokić was named Finals MVP. He averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the Nuggets’ 4-1 series win over the Miami Heat. There was no one more deserving of the trophy than Jokić, who also finished as the runner-up in league MVP voting this season. However, in true “I don’t want to be here” fashion, Jokić has gone viral again, this time for his trophy antics.
Jokić Loses MVP Trophy In Locker Room
First reported by ESPN‘s Malika Andrews, Jokić reportedly lost the Finals MVP trophy while celebrating. “I left it in the equipment manager’s room and it’s not there anymore,” Jokić admitted to Andrews. It’s not the first time that an athlete has lost an important trophy. In 2013, the Baltimore Ravens had to admit that they managed to lose the Lombardi Trophy after misplacing it during team celebrations after the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, in 2011, Real Madrid managed to get the Copa Del Rey trophy run over by the team bus while parading through the streets of the city.
Thankfully, Jokić’s story has a happy ending. Andrews later reported that “Rest assured, the Nuggets’ longtime equipment g*ru Sparky Gonzales has the trophy cleaned and detailed and it’s ready for Thursday’s parade.” However, the whole incident has only added to the mystique of Jokić’s post-championship demeaning. Speaking of the championship parade, that was another element of proceedings that appeared to physically pain him. “The job is done. We can go home now,” Jokić said in a post-game interview.