NBA star Nikola Jokic’s friendship with driver Tim Tetrick

In the Denver Post’s “Inside Nikola Jokic’s unlikely friendship with Hall of Fame harness racing driver Tim Tetrick: ‘You’ve got my dream job,’” Denver Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer chronicles the friendship that has been developed between the two superstars.

In the story, Singer explains how Jokic reached out to Tetrick.

“Jokic scrounged around for Tetrick’s number and wound up reaching him via text.

“‘Hey Timmy, I’m Nikola,’” Jokic said. “I just want to have someone in USA. He responded right away. ‘Whenever you’re here, just call me.’

“When the Nuggets were in New York several years ago, the two connected and hit it off.

“I said, ‘Do you want to go to a farm and train some horses?” Tetrick said. “He goes, ‘Yes!”

Tetrick remembered it being a frigid day at Gaitway Farm, but Jokic couldn’t hide his pleasure. According to Tetrick, he jogged eight or nine horses and didn’t want to leave the track.

Since then, the two have connected for visits to harness tracks, trainings centers and NBA games.

Singer describes a recent visit by Jokic to Tetrick’s home.

“A few Thursdays ago, Nikola Jokic’s head hit the bed at 4:30 a.m. By 6:30, he was standing in Tim Tetrick’s driveway, knocking on his door, eager to get their day started.

“The Nuggets arrived in Philadelphia early that morning, marking their third city, including New Orleans and Milwaukee, in barely over 24 hours. That didn’t deter Jokic, who was lured by Tetrick, a Hall of Fame harness racer, and the prospect of horses.

“Let’s go, Timmy,” Jokic said after arriving by Uber at Tetrick’s home.

“Later that night, the two ventured to Meadowlands racetrack.”

To read the complete story in The Denver Post, click here.

by Mike Singer, republished from The Denver Post