Basketball player Nikola Jokic spotted wearing a Rolex

Nikola Jokic attended the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat with more than a championship mindset on display. On his wrist sat a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLNR, the steel sports watch widely known among collectors as the 'Batman' — a nod to its distinctive black-and-blue color scheme. The choice was understated for a player of his stature, which made it all the more telling.

The GMT-Master II 126710BLNR was introduced at Baselworld 2019 as the spiritual successor to the earlier 116710BLNR, itself a beloved reference. The 2019 update brought Rolex's Calibre 3285 movement — a significant upgrade over the outgoing 3186 — featuring the brand's Chronergy escapement, a 70-hour power reserve, and improved resistance to magnetic fields. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses a bidirectional rotatable bezel fitted with a two-tone Cerachrom insert in black and blue ceramic, virtually scratch-proof and immune to ultraviolet fading. Unlike its predecessor, which was offered exclusively on the Oyster bracelet, the 126710BLNR ships on the five-link Jubilee bracelet, lending the watch a dressier, more refined wrist presence.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLNR occupies a rare position: it is simultaneously a serious tool watch and a style object. The GMT complication — displaying a second time zone via a 24-hour hand and graduated bezel — has genuine utility for travelers and athletes on global schedules. Waiting lists at authorized dealers remain long, and the grey market consistently prices the reference at roughly double its official retail, a sustained premium that reflects genuine demand rather than speculative frenzy.

Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP and one of the most analytically dominant players in the sport's history, is not known for ostentatious displays of wealth. His preference for a steel Rolex over a diamond-encrusted luxury statement piece aligns with a personality widely described as cerebral and unassuming — a basketball player who lets performance do the talking.

At an official retail price of $10,550, the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR remains technically accessible on paper. In practice, grey-market values hovering around $20,000 tell the real story of supply and desirability. For Jokic, the 'Batman' is less a status symbol than a quietly correct choice — which, in watchmaking terms, is often the highest compliment.