Misko Raznatovic is widely regarded as the most famous basketball agent in Europe, representing several top players, including two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. In a recent interview on the All the Smoke show with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Raznatovic recounted the story of how he discovered Jokic in his hometown of Sombor, Serbia.

Raznatovic began by explaining that he first learned about Jokic while reading a newspaper report about the Serbian U18 competition. He was intrigued to see a player score 29 points and grab 26 rebounds. The following week, he saw the same player had posted even more impressive stats: 30 points and 37 rebounds. Despite this, Raznatovic noted that scouting was typically not his responsibility, but he felt compelled to investigate further

Curious about the player, Raznatovic called his scout, only to find that the scout was unfamiliar with Jokic. This surprised him, as his scout usually knew all the young talents in the region. Raznatovic instructed the scout to find out if Jokic was dominating because of his age and size or if he genuinely possessed versatility and skill. The scout quickly returned with news that Jokic was not particularly strong but was indeed very versatile and talented.

Recognizing Jokic’s potential, Raznatovic made a decisive move. He emphasized the importance of family in the decision-making process and sent his scout to meet with Jokic’s family, who lived about 50 miles from Belgrade. The family, described as a stable and traditional Serbian household, was pleased to learn of the interest from Raznatovic’s agency, especially since Jokic had never practiced with the senior team and was largely unnoticed.

This meeting proved crucial. Raznatovic later visited the family himself, where he established a strong rapport, particularly with Jokic’s older brother, Strahinja. Raznatovic noted that Strahinja played a significant role in supporting Jokic’s early career.

Ultimately, Nikola Jokic joined Raznatovic’s BeoBasket agency at the age of 17-and-a-half. Raznatovic remarked that signing Jokic without anyone having seen him play was a singular exception in the agency’s 27-year history, showcasing the unique nature of this talent discovery.