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Nikola Jokić is one of the coolest characters in all of sports right now. The two-time MVP and NBA Champion never takes himself too seriously, and has a great sense of dry humor.
Many would be pretty fired up after losing a game to their rival, in Nikola Jokić’s case, to Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. But, the superstar was in good enough spirits after the game to hit up Philadelphia’s oldest pub, McGillins, following the team’s loss to the 76ers on Tuesday.
“But the loss didn’t dampen their spirits for too long, as Nikola Jokić and the team took a trip up to McGillin’s, Philadelphia’s oldest continuously-operating pub, in Center City for some postgame drinks.
At around midnight, former Villanova star and current Nuggets guard Collin Gillespie came into the bar, according to manager Rene Rodriguez, asking to push a few tables together for the team,” the Philadelphia Inquirer said.
McGillin’s has been operating since before the start of the Civil War, opening its doors in 1860. The history in that kind of place must be incredible, and the Joker got to experience that.
According to the article, naturally, Philly fans had to chirp Jokić and his teammates.
“We definitely had a couple Sixers fans chirp them a little bit, give him the good old Philly welcome, tell them how [Joel] Embiid deserves MVP and stuff,” Rodriguez said. “But honestly everyone was just happy to see him. He was really, really kind and took a picture with everybody.”
But, overall, it seemed like everyone had a great time and the superstar even posed for pictures with staff.
https://twitter.com/McGillins/status/1747658470747214
People might say, “what’s so special about this?” A lot of other superstars would absolutely not walk into a bar in an away city, especially Philadelphia, and not get a private room or something. Nikola Jokić is incredibly comfortable in his own skin, and proves that time after time.
According to sportsbooks, Jokić is in a close three-way race for NBA MVP with Embiid and the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On the year, the Serbian is averaging 25.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while shooting a remarkable 58% from the field. The Nuggets are currently third in the Western Conference at 28-14.