Nikola Jokić spearheads Serbia's FIBA EuroBasket roster after Nuggets' second-round playoff exit
Several NBA players are joining The Joker on International duty as Serbia looks to secure the European title. Bogdan Bagdanović of the LA Clippers, Nikola Jović of the Miami Heat, Tristan Vukčević of the Washington Wizards, and Nikola Topić of the recently crowned NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have all been called up to represent the nation in August.
Other NBA superstars have already committed to representing their nations, including Luka Dončić for Slovenia and Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece.
Jokić is suiting up for Serbia after the Nuggets crashed out of the second round of the NBA season behind two seven-game series. Denver faced a gritty Clippers team in seven games to begin the postseason and ran into the talented and youthful Thunder in the Conference semifinals, ending their season.
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The three-time MVP averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game last season as Denver secured the fourth seed in the West with a 50-32 record. Jokić and the team went into the playoffs after head coach Michael Malone was fired with three games remaining in the regular season.
Jokić's national team stints included the 2016 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the 2016 and 2024 Olympic games and the 2022 EuroBasket tournaments. In 2023, he decided to skip the FIBA World Cup, which dismayed Serbian fans despite their team winning Silver after falling to Germany.
Now entering his 11th season in the NBA and with the Nuggets, Jokić has two years and a player option remaining on the five-year, $276 million deal signed in 2022. After inking the extension, the 30-year-old led Denver to its first NBA title by defeating the Heat in five games.
Multiple reports have indicated that Jokić does not intend to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets this offseason. Instead, he's spent the summer pursuing his well-documented love of horses. On Sunday, Jokić enjoyed a tear-filled celebration following the win of his racehorse back in Serbia.
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