Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets looks on in the NBA preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, October 15, 2023. /CFP
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets looks on in the NBA preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, October 15, 2023. /CFP
2023 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will play for Serbia in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, the country’s Olympic Committee President, Bozidar Maljkovic, confirmed this week.
Serbia made the FIBA Basketball World Cup final in Pasay, the Philippines, in September, but lost to Germany. Jokic didn’t participate in the tournament as he was taking a break after leading the Nuggets to win their first title in the June.
“We didn’t have NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic. Neither Vasilije Micic, the MVP of the EuroLeague. Nor Nikola Kalinic. I think we come together and get the best out of us, as in all sports,” Maljkovic said in an interview with AS.com. “I can be proud of Novak Djokovic’s season and Ivana Spanovic [Serbian long jumper], who won gold in the 2023 World Athletics Championships.”
“By the way, I already announced that in Paris, they will be all, Jokic included. The Paris Games will be a party, and I am confident that Serbian sport will have a large participation,” Malijkovic added.
Nikola Jokic (#15) of Serbia posts up in the EuroBasket 2022 Round of 15 game against Italy in Berlin, Germany, September 11, 2022. /CFP
Nikola Jokic (#15) of Serbia posts up in the EuroBasket 2022 Round of 15 game against Italy in Berlin, Germany, September 11, 2022. /CFP
Jokic played in three major international events, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the FIBA World Cup in China in 2019 and the EuroBasket 2022 in the Czech Republic, Germany. Georgia and Italy. Having entered his career summit from 2020, since when he won two straight NBA MVP awards, Jokic averaged 21.7 points, 10 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game at the EuroBasket 2022 and helped Serbia advance to the Round of 16.
With his comprehensive offensive skills, Jokic’s offensive power won’t be whittled down in FIBA games. Meanwhile, since there is no defensive 3-second violation under FIBA rules, Jokic can make more defensive contributions by staying under the rim.
Serbia made four appearances in the basketball men’s event at the Olympics and secured the silver medal twice in 1996 and 2016 as their best record.
