When Nikola Jokiu0107 was announced as the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Serbian big man was fast asleep. In fact, if it wasn’t for his older brother Nemanja, Jokiu0107 would have slept through the entire draft. Nemanja called Nikola from New York to celebrate the news but as he popped open a bottle of champagne, he was greeted by a groggy younger brother on the other end of the line.
The drafting of Nikola Jokiu0107 was received in a similar fashion around the league. Fan interest wanes as the NBA Draft turns to the second round each year, and when Jokiu0107’s name was revealed on the bottom ticker of the screen during a Taco Bell commercial, it’s easy to understand why the league and its fan base wasn’t taken by storm right away.