During his recent promotional tour in China, Nikola Jokić found himself at the center of a moment straight out of Hollywood, specifically, The Godfather. While greeting fans in Guangzhou as part of a five-day, six-city tour with Chinese sportswear brand 361 Degrees, the Denver Nuggets superstar received a gift that was equal parts bizarre, brilliant, and deeply personal: a horse’s head.
Not the kind that sends movie producers into a panic. This one was crafted entirely from Jokić’s signature sneakers.
A diehard fan presented the Serbian center with the custom-made sculpture, a nod to both his well-known love of horses and the iconic scene from The Godfather. The gesture was met with laughter, awe, and a wide smile from Jokić, who, thankfully, didn’t wake up next to it in bed.
Nikola Jokić is officially on tour in China with his shoe partner 361Degrees and someone made him a horse head out of his shoes
From the @meridiansportrs Instagram page ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/y4j7QDmoBi
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) July 17, 2025
Jokić’s arrival in China sparked a frenzy. Crowds packed Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, chanting his name and waving Nuggets jerseys. From Foshan to Chengdu, fans lined up for autographs, selfies, and a glimpse of the three-time MVP. The horse head gift, however, stole the show.
The sculpture was made using models of the sneakers Jokić wore throughout the 2024–25 NBA season. Back home in Serbia, Jokić owns several horses and spends much of his offseason at the stables.
The Godfather reference wasn’t lost on anyone. In the film, a horse’s head is a warning. In China, it was a tribute.
