The Serbian national team has ignited a wave of speculation with the recent announcement of their preliminary 16-man roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, prominently featuring Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. Despite the inclusion, Nikola Jokic’s commitment to the Olympic squad remains a topic of intrigue and uncertainty.
Nikola Jokic’s Historical Impact and Current Ambivalence
Nikola Jokic, a towering figure in basketball, etched his name in NBA history this May by clinching his third league MVP title, joining an elite group of nine players to achieve this feat. However, his participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics is not yet confirmed. Post the Nuggets’ playoff exit, Nikola Jokic expressed his indecision, stating, “I don’t know, my friend. We will see. I need to think about it.”
This noncommittal stance is not new for Nikola Jokic, who skipped the 2023 FIBA World Cup citing the toll of the NBA season, especially following Denver’s first championship run. His last international appearance was at the 2022 EuroBasket, and since then, Nikola Jokic has preferred spending his off-seasons back home in Serbia, recently spotted river-rafting with friends.
Serbia’s Preparation and Key Players
Under the guidance of Coach Svetislav Pesic, the Serbian team is shaping up strongly, with NBA talents like Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks), Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat), Vasilije Micic (Charlotte Hornets), and Aleksej Pokusevski (Hornets) also named in the preliminary squad.
Ognjen Stojakovic, Nuggets assistant coach and a silver medalist with Serbia at last year’s FIBA World Cup, will return to the coaching staff, enhancing the team’s strategic framework.
The Road to Paris 2024
Serbia, thanks to their silver medal performance at the last World Cup, has automatically qualified for the Olympics. They are set to begin their campaign on July 28 against a formidable United States team boasting NBA stars like Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.
The group stages will unfold in Lille and Paris, with South Sudan also in Serbia’s group, and another team yet to be decided through ongoing qualifiers.
Nuggets’ International Representation
Beyond Nikola Jokic, other Nuggets players are gearing up for international duty. Jamal Murray has committed to the Canadian national team, while Vlatko Cancar is expected to make a comeback from his injury to aid Slovenia in their Olympic qualifiers, according to Nuggets General Manager Calvin Booth.
Nikola Jokic: A Waiting Game
As the Paris Olympics approach, the basketball world watches closely. Will Jokic grace the Olympic courts, or will he opt for a summer of rest? Only time will tell, but the anticipation is undeniably high, not just in Serbia but across the global basketball fraternity, eager to see if one of the game’s greatest talents will vie for Olympic glory.
