Nikola Jokic - Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets - Game Five
DENVER, COLORADO - Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets runs down the court while playing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Round 1 Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Matthew Stockman / Staff

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, a basketball player from Serbia, expressed his sorrow about the tragic school shooting in his home country.

The incident involved a 13-year-old boy who used his father's guns to kill eight schoolchildren and a school guard in Belgrade, less than 200 kilometers from Jokic's hometown of Sombor.

Jokic told reporters that it was a rare occurrence in Serbia, and he was sorry for what the families were going through.

He stated that it is much tougher to handle when such an incident happens closer to home. According to reports, this was the first school shooting in modern Serbian history.

Nikola Jokic Surprised by the Tragedy

Jokic was surprised by the tragedy and thought such incidents were rare in Serbia. He said it is vital to check on people struggling after such an attack and listen to their needs carefully. He emphasized the need to take care of everyone affected by the shooting.

In a show of support, Luka Doncic, a fellow European and NBA star from Slovenia, has agreed to pay for funeral arrangements and grief counseling for those affected by the shooting. He plans to explore immediate and long-term ways to assist those affected by the shooting through his foundation and hopes to involve other NBA players with Balkan roots to help.

Recently, the Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Phoenix Suns, winning 97-87, and are now leading 2-0 in the second round of the NBA playoffs.

The Nuggets' center, Nikola Jokic, was the standout player with a remarkable 39 points and 16 rebounds, displaying an impressive performance.

The next game is scheduled for Friday and will take place in Phoenix.