Nikola Jokic seeks Taco Bell deal after infamous draft night commercial

Nikola Jokic didn’t get on stage in New York with an oversized suit to put on a Denver Nuggets cap.

When the Nuggets’ two-time NBA MVP was selected, he was sleeping in Sombor, Serbia. On Wednesday, Jokic accepted his second MVP while in his hometown. He spoke with the media on Thursday, who reminded him that what we saw in America wasn’t a sleepy Serbian but a fast-food commercial when he was drafted.

Taco Bell was advertising on ESPN for their new quesarito, which went mainstream as a meme in Jokic’s draft year of 2014. And then Jokic was drafted—mid-commercial—as told by ESPN’s ticker.

Eight years later, Jokic was finally asked about it.

“Hopefully, we’re gonna have some percentage from the Taco Bell,” he said.

This is what was on ESPN when the #Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokic with the 41st pick pic.twitter.com/iyzvv8QnLf

— Aniello Piro (@MediaByAP) February 11, 2017

So far the closest Jokic has come to pairing with the fast food giant is participating in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

Certainly, if the league and TV partner knew that Jokic would be a Hall of Famer one day, they wouldn’t have gone to break.

“I was sleeping when they drafted me,” he said. “I didn’t even think about coming from playing in Europe or going there. I think it’s a really nice journey. And hopefully, it’s not going to stop.”

Jokic is the first two-time MVP in Denver sports history, and the Taco Bell commercial is just part of his infamy. He has two MVPs; how about we get this man some tacos?

***