Denver Nuggets’ powerful center, Nikola Jokic was making headlines this week in the sneaker game as he geared up to drop his first signature shoe under a multi-year deal with the Chinese brand 361.
The transition from his former deal with Nike leaves all his fans wondering about the possible reasons that might have intrigued “The Joker” to make such a significant shift to 361.
Jokic reveals decision to shift from Nike to 361
During a recent game against the Toronto Raptors, Jokic showcased the brand’s footwear, solidifying his commitment to wear 361 shoes in the foreseeable future. The Joker affirms that the decision to join forces with 361 was influenced by his teammate Aaron Gordon’s positive experiences with the brand.
He also added, “They are really direct with me and honest… And I’m really happy with the relationship that I have with them… They are asking me after every practice, after every game and so I really like the communication that we have right now.”
Despite being the only NBA MVP without a signature shoe to his name since 2008, Jokic is set to rectify this with 361. Jokic now has become a pivotal figure in the rising trend of NBA stars opting for Chinese brands, aligning himself with the likes of Aaron Gordon and other notable players.
Steve Kerr unleashes verbal tirade over Nikola Jokic’s 18 free throw attempts
The Joker smartly compensated all the off touches on the dribble ball by making 18 of 18 from the free throw line, paving an easy pathway for the Denver Nuggets to a five games winning streak.
As Jokic stepped to the line for his 15th and 16th attempts, eye rolls from the Warriors’ side were noticeable. However, it wasn’t the player’s smartness that annoyed the Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr; instead, it was his frustration with the league’s approach to officiating fouls. In a post game interview, Steve Kerr blasted the officials in the following manner:
“I have no problem with the officials themselves, I have a problem with the way we are legislating defense out of the game. That’s what we’re doing. The way we’re teaching officials, we’re just enabling to players to (fool) their way to the foul line. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting.”
Steve Kerr sounds off after Nikola Jokic’s 18 free throws: “I have a problem with the way we are legislating defense out of the game.We're just enabling players to BS their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn't have wanted to watch the second half. It was disgusting." pic.twitter.com/YBWuldi0Za
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 25, 2023
He made his final point by saying, “They were just baiting refs into calls. But the refs have to make those calls because that’s how they’re taught.”
Do you think that maybe the league should start doing their homework in order to make better calls for the right plays? Let us know what you think in the comments down below!
