DeMarcus Cousins isn’t one to bite his tongue, and in a recent sit-down on the Straight Game Podcast, the former NBA All-Star gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Nikola Jokic that’ll make you shake your head, laugh, and maybe start questioning everything you thought you knew about greatness.
DeMarcus Cousins, who played briefly alongside Nikola Jokic in Denver, Colorado, didn’t just rave about the three-time MVP’s insane skill set. He went deeper, pulling back the curtain on Jokic’s personality and approach to basketball. Spoiler alert: the Joker really doesn’t care all that much.
Yup, according to Boogie, the most dominant big man in the league (and arguably the world), routinely drops historic numbers without even wanting to be there. “It’s most games where he’s dropping one of these crazy stats, he probably doesn’t even want to be there,” Cousins added. “That’s the scary part about all of it.” However, some basketball fans disagree. “Why does he get applause for being nonchalant about basketball?” asked one X.
DeMarcus Cousins Opens up About Nikola Jokic
“The part that makes me love Jokic as much as I do is more so his personality,” Cousins said. “He just tells you a little bit about himself… he’ll let you know how he really don’t give a f— about this sh—.”
Scary might actually be putting it lightly. We’re talking about a guy who just wrapped up a season averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. He led Denver to yet another deep playoff run. Oh, and let’s not forget, he’s a Finals MVP with a championship under his belt and back-to-back triple-double seasons. And he’s doing it all… reluctantly?
According to DeMarcus Cousins, Jokic once casually floated the idea of retiring after this contract. You read that right. The man might walk away from basketball and a bag worth over $300 million just to go chill back in Serbia. “He’s like, ‘Cuz, honestly, I think I might retire after this contract,’” Cousins recalled. “I said, ‘Leave $300 million on the table?! You out your motherf—ing mind!” But Nikola Jokic? Unfazed. His dream isn’t another ring or another MVP, it’s just peace and quiet in his hometown of Sombor.
What Does Jokic Actually Want To Do?
“He’s like, ‘I just want to lay in my valley… with my horses,’” Cousins said, painting a picture of the most unbothered superstar we’ve ever seen. And honestly, that tracks. Jokic’s aversion to the spotlight has been well-documented. While most players spend their offseasons building brands, hosting camps, or podcasting, Jokic is literally racing horses and avoiding cameras. No media tours. No Instagram flexing. Just dirt roads and trotting carts.
It’s almost ironic. In an era where players carefully curate their image and treat every game like a legacy checkpoint, Jokic is over here casually rewriting history and then peacing out to ride horses. And yet—he’s still the guy. The most efficient player in the game. The heart of a title team. The best passer to ever play the center position. All while being emotionally allergic to basketball culture.
DeMarcus Cousins put it best: it’s that very detachment that makes Nikola Jokic so dangerous. When you’re that good and you don’t even care? The league doesn’t stand a chance. So while fans argue over GOATs and players lobby for awards, Nikola Jokic is out here effortlessly dominating, quietly plotting his return to the valley, and giving zero you-know-whats along the way.
