DENVER (USA) - Nikola Jokic, back in Denver preparing for the upcoming NBA season with the Nuggets, has everyone in Colorado talking not just about the Nuggets but also his Serbia national team.
Basketball fans all over the USA watched the Olympics in France and those in the Mile High City no doubt rooted for Jokic as he led his country to a bronze medal.
The Joker played arguably the best basketball of his national team career to help it reach the podium.
One reporter then asked: "You represented your country, which shortened your summer, but will this experience help you for this season?"
Every player that has an opportunity to play with his National Team should do it
"Of course. I really enjoyed playing for the National Team, with my friends, represent my country, my hometown, my city, my family. I think it's a great experience and I think that every player that has an opportunity to do that should do it. It's a completely different competition, tournament. Basically, every game matter. If you lose, you go home. So it's very interesting, especially for players who could do that, I advise them to do it.
When asked to compare winning bronze with Serbia to leading Denver to their first NBA title in 2023, Jokic talked about the "unique emotions and unique feeling" he had on the international stage since he played with friends he'd competed with and against in his early teenaged years.
"It's similar and different to winning for the first time ever for this organization (Nuggets), and for me, myself," he said.
Unique emotions, unique feeling
"Of course, playing with the national team, it's unique emotions, unique feeling, playing with your friends that you grew up (with), playing against them since you were 13, 14, 15 and knew them since you were 13, 14 and 15, and now you are competing for the national team at the Olympics against the best teams in the world, so it's similar and different."
Jokic was sensational in France and made the All-Star Five. His 31.0 EFFPG (efficiency per game) ranked No. 1 amongst all players in the competition. He rescued Serbia in their Quarter-Final against Australia, leading the team to a 95-90 come-from-behind win in overtime. Jokic had 21 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists in that victory.
After nearly spearheading a Serbia win over the USA in the Semi-Finals, a game the Americans won, 95-91, despite Jokic's 17 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds, he fired his country to a 93-83 Bronze Medal Game triumph over Germany. Jokic had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in that contest.
FIBA