I’ve been trying to think of reasons as to why Nikola Jokic is not as popular as Kristaps Porzingis. Market size may be a factor, sure, but that’s not the whole reason. Neither is the fact that Kristaps was the higher pick, or that he is the more striking physical specimen.
No, the real reason that Nikola is less hyped then his Latvian counterpart is because there was no insufferable kid in a Nuggets jersey crying when he got picked. Not even one. Kristaps had such a kid; the impression was then formed that he needed to win over a hostile public. Nikola has no similar adversity to overcome.
Even if we got a kid to make a Vine or something of her crying and saying how much she hated Nikola and that the Nuggets should have drafted Nemanja Dangubic instead, it would be too late. There is no changing the fact that annoying New York brats hated Kristaps but similar Denver brats didn’t hate Nikola.