A potential golden Nugget for Serbia

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - One player will not be the difference between winning and losing for a national team like Serbia at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade, yet it's easy to see how there might be a sense of urgency to bring Nikola Jokic into the fold this summer.

From my vantage point, there should be a growing sense of urgency. While it will take a big upset to keep Serbia from winning the OQT on their home court by Angola, Puerto Rico, Japan, the Czech Republic or Latvia, the Denver rookie has already provided enough evidence that he would be an asset for his country.

That would be true both when the OQT is staged 4-9 July, and at the Olympics if the Serbians were to punch their ticket. The skillful Jokic is coming into his own in the NBA where he has, by his own admission, surprised himself by averaging 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

The 2.09m center is no stranger to international basketball. He played for Serbia at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship and showed flashes of becoming a very good player.

Nikola Jokic (SRB) attempts a block at 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship 

In a first meeting against the USA, he had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and then against the Americans in the Final, he scored 10 again. He looked particularly good on one play, racing ahead of the opposition and scoring on a fast break.

Jokic was not the most celebrated player there, however. He did not make the All-Star Five, which consisted of fellow Serbian Vasilje Micic, Australia's Dante Exum, the USA's Aaron Gordon and Jahlil Okafor and Croatia's Dario Saric. 

His Denver coach, Mike Malone, has marveled at Jokic's play of late. In a game on Monday at home against Toronto, a 112-93 Nuggets victory, the youngster positively dazzled and dominated.

After that game, Malone raved about his young center. He told reporters: "What a performance. Every time I think he's kind of maxed out for his rookie season, he finds a way to keep on impressing me."

Jokic is now a player that everyone wants to see. He has been selected for the World Team in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 12 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto during NBA All-Star 2016.

You can talk about some of these other young bigs, who are all talented, and I wouldn't trade him for anybody in the world. He's a special young man and a special young talent. He's only going to get better as he gets stronger. - Malone

Born in Sombor, a city in the northwest of Serbia near the borders of both Hungary and Croatia, Jokic is just scratching the surface of his potential. It was that way in 2013, too. There is an interesting comparison to be made between Jokic and Pau Gasol. When the Spaniard played for his country  at the 1999 FIBA World Junior Championship for Men, he averaged 5.2ppg and 3.5rpg. Gasol logged 132 minutes in eight games.

Jokic logged 135 minutes and averaged 7.1ppg and 5rpg. Gasol was taller at 2.15m than Jokic (2.09m) yet they both played at center and needed, as Nuggets coach Malone said of his pivot, to get stronger. 

It would be a big ask for Jokic to have the sort of career that Gasol has enjoyed, one that has seen him capture NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, world and European titles with Spain and scoop MVP awards at different tournaments, yet there are similarities.

Jokic is already making plenty of big plays, whether it's scoring, rebounding or setting up his teammates. He raised eyebrows in a 102-101 loss to Memphis on 21 January with a slick, behind-the-back pass that fooled Gasol's brother, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.

Some NBA clubs must be wondering why they didn't select him in the 2014 draft. Denver are glad they did, in the second round at No. 41! After the 2014-15 season with KK Mega Leks, he left for America. 

"When I came here I didn't think I would play," he said. "Now I have trust from the coach."

As far as Serbia goes, it's just a matter of wait and see. Denver did not stand in the way of Joffrey Lauvergne playing for France last summer at the EuroBasket.

As it is, Serbia have Ognjen Kuzmic and Miroslav Raduljica at center. Both have their attributes, but also limitations. Kuzmic is not polished offensively while Raduljica is usually out of breath by the time he runs up and down the floor for a couple of minutes.

There is also the possibility that Boban Marjanovic, who is in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs, could play. Jokic should be the man, though, that Serbia should pull out all stops to bring into camp and have for the OQT. 

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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