Nikola Jokić, one of the NBA’s greatest players of all time – an NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, and three-time NBA MVP, was once drafted during a Taco Bell commercial on ESPN. And it is still something that clearly sticks with him.
Jokić was not always thought of as one of the best players in the world. When he was drafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, he was picked at #41 overall in the second round. The second round is famously a bit of a crapshoot, especially when it comes to teams who may be taking flyers on players from Europe. Jokić’s Serbian countryman Nemanja Dangubić was selected #54 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the same draft and never even made it to the NBA.
But Jokić had the special indignity of not only being a bit of an unknown on draft night in 2014, but having his selection take place during the middle of a Taco Bell commercial on ESPN.
And in sitting down with the Nuggets social media team for an interview where he talked about a wide range of subjects from his professional and personal life, Nikola Jokić started by saying that he’s still never eaten at Taco Bell because of what happened when he was drafted.
Jokic says he has never eaten Taco Bell because of draft night 🤣 https://t.co/gk6ir1vty8 pic.twitter.com/WfwRxWV2ih
— Adam Mares (@Adam_Mares) February 22, 2025
“I think I’ve never had Taco Bell just because of that,” Jokić exclaimed.
There can be no weirder or more appropriate commentary on the modern American life than one of professional sports’ most accomplished athletes being motivated by a Taco Bell commercial. Could you imagine if that would have happened to Michael Jordan? He may have won ten championships with that kind of extra motivation. It could have been its own documentary series.
It’s been over a decade now, so perhaps it’s time to let bygones be bygones. Let’s be honest, Nikola Jokić doesn’t have the most sculpted physique in NBA history. He would be a perfect fit as a Taco Bell spokesperson. If Taco Bell and Jokić came together for some commercials of their own it could be one of the best full circle moments ever.
