Pesic counting on one-two punch from Bogdanovic, Jokic at World Cup

BELGRADE (Serbia) - Bogdan Bogdanovic has given Serbia's FIBA Basketball World Cup title hopes a boost by declaring his intention to suit up at the event being staged in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

A member of the All-Star Five at the World Cup in China four years ago, Bogdanovic met with Serbia coach Svetislav Pesic when the national team boss came to watch him play for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

"We talked about it [World Cup]," Bogdanovic said to RTS (Radio Television of Serbia). "If I'm healthy, my playing for the national team is never questioned. I'm there for that."

In China, Bogdanovic proved he is one of the world's best players. His 183 points scored and 35 made three-pointers both ranked No. 1 in the tournament. His scoring average of 22.9 points per game was second-best among all players, while only three players had a better efficiency than his 24.6.

Bogdanovic had 28 points and six assists in a win over the USA at the World Cup in China

All eyes in Serbia are not just on Bogdanovic, however.

Nikola Jokic, the two-time reigning NBA MVP and one of the MVP favorites for this season, has a lot of Serbia fans hoping that he'll lead the Denver Nuggets to their first title. Jokic is also seeking his first championship in the league.

Pesic has not coached at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in more than two decades, not since leading Yugoslavia to the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup title in Indianapolis.

The tournament has since doubled in size to 32 teams.

Pesic says his recent trip to USA  was very important.

"We talked about the World Cup with Bogdanovic," he said. "We are now doing that, if we can't practice with the players, then at least we can talk to them.

"We came here to see Jokic and Bogdanovic, to present our plan of preparations."

If the full schedule or preparations has yet to be announced, Serbia do know they will play at the 32nd Aegean Acropolis Tournament, being held 8-10 August, in Athens. Italy and Greece are also taking part in the World Cup warm-up event.

"It's still too early, we need to see also the draw," Pesic said of finalizing preparations. "But it's not just about the players from the NBA, players in Europe will have an even longer season. It's too early."

Pesic marvels at the way Jokic plays.

He heaped praise on his center, and Slovenia's Luka Doncic, another of the NBA's biggest stars.

"I think they've changed the NBA with their creativity, their vision of basketball," Pesic said. "They play a different basketball than most Americans or NBA players."

In January, before Serbia had qualified for the World Cup, Jokic said: "If I'm there [World Cup 2023], I'll do my best to win a medal."

Despite falling to Italy in a FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Round of 16 upset, Jokic had a very positive summer with the national team.

"We had a great connection as a team," Jokic said. "Even when we lost against Italy, I said that I enjoyed playing with those guys, it was a pleasure sharing the locker room with them. Great group of people."  

Serbia, No. 6 in the FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike, are going to be tough for all their opponents at the World Cup. Their average margin of victory at the EuroBasket in the Group Phase was 21 points per game. Among their impressive displays was a 100-70 triumph over Lauri Markkanen and Finland, and 96-69 over eventual Semi-Finalists, Poland.

With both Jokic and Bogdanovic, Serbia will be among the feared of all teams at the World Cup.

FIBA