DENVER (AP) 鈥� Nikola Jokic arrived in character for a first-round playoff game Saturday night.
That character was 鈥淕ru,鈥� the protagonist from the 鈥淒espicable Me鈥� movies.
Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP for the Denver Nuggets, wore a similar outfit and signature wrap-around striped scarf as 鈥淕ru.鈥� It was a hit on social media, , "going to play basketball or going to steal the moon?鈥�
鈥淚 mean, I love the guy and I love the cartoon and why not just have a little bit of fun, too?鈥� Jokic said after leading the Nuggets to a 114-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
The outfit he wore to the game appeared to be a tease to his appearance in a for 鈥淒espicable Me 4,鈥� where he seeks therapy because the Minions think he鈥檚 their boss.
In the trailer, Jokic sits on a couch in a suit while talking with a therapist. He explains how everyone thinks he looks like 鈥淕ru.鈥�
鈥淚 thought I looked really good that day. I put on this beautiful suit that said, 鈥業 mean business,'" Jokic tells the therapist.
鈥淭hen what happened?鈥� she wonders.
鈥淭hey say I look like 鈥楪ru,鈥欌�� Jokic responds.
"Why does that bother you?" she asks.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛,鈥� Jokic insists.
"Then why bring it up? she inquires.
鈥淏ecause they won鈥檛 leave me alone,鈥� Jokic says.
Jokic then walks over to a window and pulls up a shade to reveal a handful of Minions cheering for 鈥淕ru鈥� from outside.
鈥淕uys, I鈥檓 not your boss," Jokic says.
Jokic is the certainly boss on the court for the Nuggets, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists this season. He's the favorite to win a third MVP award, according to . He was the MVP of the finals last season when the Nuggets captured their first NBA title in franchise history.
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AP NBA:
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
