Nikola Jokic’s journey to NBA superstardom is the stuff of legend-equal parts improbable, inspiring, and, as it turns out, a little spicy.
Nikola Jokić has finally tried the Quesarito, yes, the same one from the commercial when his name was called
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 16, 2026
This is iconic 😭 @tacobell pic.twitter.com/MXILgGpHNW
Back in 2014, the Denver Nuggets used the 41st overall pick to draft a relatively unknown Serbian center. The moment was so under-the-radar that it didn’t even make live TV.
Instead, the announcement came during a Taco Bell commercial promoting the Quesarito. That’s right-while the basketball world was watching burritos get a cheesy upgrade, the Nuggets quietly added a player who would go on to redefine what a big man can be in today’s NBA.
Fast forward to now, and Jokic has built a resume that puts him in rare air. We’re talking three MVPs, a Finals MVP, five All-NBA First Team nods, and 180 triple-doubles.
He’s not just a second-round steal-he’s a generational talent. A unicorn in sneakers.
And the fact that it all started during a fast-food ad only adds to the legend.
What makes Jokic’s rise even more remarkable is that he wasn’t even supposed to be the top center on his own team. Denver had already taken Jusuf Nurkic in the first round that same year, and early expectations were that Jokic might fill a backup role. Instead, he’s become one of the most dominant and unique post players the league has ever seen-an elite passer, scorer, and rebounder all rolled into one.
And now, in a full-circle moment nearly a decade in the making, Jokic finally took a bite out of the Quesarito that unknowingly shared the spotlight with his draft selection. Caught on video, the seven-time All-Star nonchalantly bit into the tortilla-wrapped symbol of his NBA origin story, shrugged, and kept eating. Classic Jokic-low-key, unbothered, and somehow always at the center of something memorable.
But while the off-court moments are fun, Jokic’s impact on the court remains the heartbeat of the Denver Nuggets. He’s currently sidelined with a hyperextended knee-an injury that initially raised concerns-but the team has held its own in his absence. Denver has gone 6-3 without him, which is no small feat considering how much of their offense runs through the big man.
The key? A locked-in Jamal Murray, a productive offseason that bolstered the roster, and the continued emergence of Peyton Watson.
That trio has helped steady the ship while Jokic recovers, and it’s shifted the narrative around Denver’s depth. For years, the knock on the Nuggets was how they struggled when Jokic sat.
Now, they’re showing signs of being one of the league’s deepest and most balanced teams.
Still, as much as the supporting cast has stepped up, Denver’s ceiling remains tied to Jokic. He’s not just the engine of the Nuggets’ offense-he is the offense.
His vision, touch, and feel for the game are unmatched at his position. And as he works his way back from injury, Nuggets fans can take comfort in knowing their MVP is fueled up-possibly by a Quesarito-and ready to get back to doing what he does best: dominating the game in his own unassuming, brilliant way.
Endorsement deal or not, Jokic and Taco Bell will always be linked. One was a late-night snack.
The other? A late-round pick who became one of the best to ever do it.