Nikola Jokic shows off his best in a new pair of shoes.

“Joker 1” was released by 361 Degrees in early December. Entering his 10th NBA season, Jokic has played exclusively in his first signature shoe and the results are better than ever.

The three-time Most Valuable Player is on pace to set new career highs in points per game (30.9), 3-point percentage (51.4), steals per game (1.7) and minutes per game (37.1) while his rebounds (12.5), assists (9.7) and blocks (0.7) per game are not far from his previous bests. Maybe it’s the shoes.

“They’re really good. They are so comfortable. I just love the way they feel on my feet,” Jokic said after dropping 32 points on 12 of 17 shooting, including a 4 of 6 mark on 3-pointers, in Monday’s win over the Suns. “When we started 361, when we were talking, that was probably the biggest key for me. We play so many games and practice. So comfort was the most important thing for me.”

Jokic said he didn’t have much input into the design, but they still pay homage to his roots. The outsole or bottom of the shoe combines traditional Serbian designs with functional traction. That kind of detail is what drew Nuggets teammate Aaron Gordon to the brand, which has released five of his signature shoes.

“The creative direction they took and the collaboration. They were really, really curious and interested and hungry to learn what we liked and apply it to the shoe,” Gordon told the Denver Gazette in the locker room while surrounded by a pile of his own kicks.

“From top to bottom, from bottom to top, you can choose what you like, what you prefer and what you want to expand on. They take into account your entire background, your entire upbringing, and really put together a shoe that embodies who you are.”

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The Joker 1 is available in five color variants, which were shown at a release party at Ball Arena on December 2nd. All are priced at $129 and are available from the 361 online store. The “Ace,” a standard black and white option, is currently the only one available for purchase. The “Joker” model is purple and green, a nod to the Batman character’s colorful suits, and is scheduled to go on sale on January 1st.

The “Denver” version features the light blue and yellow of the Nuggets uniforms from when Jokic started the franchise and the “Triple Red” that lives up to its name and “wishes for prosperity, harmony and happiness in the “Next year,” says the brand’s website, will be available soon.

“They’re tough,” Gordon said of Jokic’s first signature shoes. “It’s so, so hard.”

Jokic played Monday’s game against Phoenix in the “Champagne” colorway, which brings back memories of the 2023 Finals Most Valuable Player spraying bottles of champagne during Denver’s championship celebration. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic put the shoe to the test in the first half of Thursday’s game. Textbook witty footwork kept Phoenix’s 7-foot-1, 291-pound man off balance. When Jokic made his move, Nurkic’s foot was firmly planted on the sneaker. Jokic landed on the court and grabbed his ankle, but the shoe passed the test.

“I tried to make a pivoting motion and he stepped on my foot,” Jokic said. “I kind of pulled my leg out and couldn’t jump. It just felt a little uncomfortable, but everything is fine.”

“’Air Joker’ Sounds Damn Cool”: Why Nike Has No Plans for a Nikola Jokic Signature Shoe

Jokic was previously a Nike athlete, but despite his successful career, he never received a signature shoe from the Swoosh. A year ago, he signed with 361 and began wearing the brand’s “BIG3” line until his signature shoe was finished. It took a little longer than originally planned, perhaps too late to find them under many Christmas trees in America, but there is still enough time for the Serbian Orthodox Christmas, which Jokic celebrates on January 7th.

“We needed a little more time to get to where they feel,” Jokic said. “You feel really good now.”