MIAMI (USA) - Nikola Jovic's NBA season came to an end last night as Cleveland completed a sweep of Miami. The Serbian forward was the Heat's best player in Game 4 of the playoff series, scoring 24 points in just 29 minutes. Despite his strong performance, the disappointment is real. Now, he shifts his focus to a new challenge this summer.
It's tempting to think that Serbia, with their nemesis USA not in the way, have a better chance of reaching the top of the podium when the FIBA EuroBasket is staged later this year.
Past experience at the event, however, tells them that the EuroBasket is an unforgiving tournament.
Serbia lost after reaching Finals in 2009 and 2017, and they were tripped up earlier at other EuroBaskets.
Maybe this year will see Serbia capture the EuroBasket crown for the first time.
They will play in Group A, in Riga, against Latvia, Türkiye, Estonia, Portugal and Czechia.
"I think it's a good group," said Serbia's Miami Heat rising star Nikola Jovic. "I think we have a few good teams, a few underdogs.
"No matter who the opponent is, we have to stay locked in.
"It's going to be tough no matter what because it's one game or go home (starting in the Round of 16)."
At EuroBasket 2022, Serbia had a healthy lead against Italy in the first half of their Round of 16 game but lost.
The Azzurri won, despite having their coach, Gianmarco Pozzecco, ejected following two technical fouls.
Serbia followed that up by reaching the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Final in Manila, where they lost a thriller to Germany.
Then at the Olympics in Paris, after an incredible come-from-behind win over Australia in the Quarter-Finals, USA stunned Serbia thanks to 36 points Stephen Curry and a triple-double from LeBron James.
The Serbians rebounded with a bronze medal triumph over Germany.
Going into the EuroBasket, the mindset will be crucial.
The goal, according to Jovic, is to "play the right way and believe in each other and we'll see what happens."
"We know how good we are," he said. "I think we have a chance. We have a good team. We've got a good group. I hope everybody comes, everybody's healthy. I think everybody's got a chance so it’s going to be interesting."
"THAT GAME AGAINST USA WAS SOMETHING I'LL NEVER FORGET. I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT. IT'S THE BEST GAME I EVER WATCHED..."
Serbia have played in several Finals over the years but not won any of them. In addition to the 2009 and 2017 EuroBasket Final defeats to Spain and Slovenia, respectively, they lost to the USA in the 2014 World Cup title game and the 2016 Olympic Gold Medal Game, and to Germany in the 2023 World Cup Final.
Jovic has only played in two of those teams, at the 2023 World Cup and at last year's Olympics.
"I hope at one point I'm going to have a gold," he said. "Whether it’s EuroBasket, World Cup or Olympics. That’s what everyone is aiming for." Even if Serbia did not reach the Olympic Final, there is something to be said for having a courtside seat for one of the best international basketball games ever played, the Olympic Semi-Final against the USA.
Had Serbia been able to hold on to their double-digit lead, then maybe they would have gone on to win gold yet Curry and LeBron James provided much of the inspiration as the Americans claimed a 95-91 victory.
"I don't think we regret much," Jovic said. "We gave everything we had. We needed just a little bit but didn’t get it at the end. Of course we’re not happy that we lost but we gave everything."
Jovic, 21, didn't have as much an impact on the Olympics as he had at the World Cup. In fact, he played less.
"I wasn't really healthy," he said. "I came to the tournament coming back from a broken foot. I got really sick during the tournament. It was really tough.
"But I'll never question my minutes. I was just happy I was there. I know how good I am but at the moment, I wasn’t able to help the guys more than I did. That’s why you had other guys stepping up. They did a great job."
Just to be on the bench to bear witness to the incredible clash of the titans was special. Jovic played just under three minutes in that showdown.
"That game against USA was something I'll never forget," he said. "I was so happy to be a part of that. It's the best game I ever watched and for sure the best game I was ever at."
Serbia led by 17 in the first half and double-digits entering the final quarter only for Curry to shoot the USA to victory. He made 9 of 14 3-pointers and scored 36 points. Then there was triple-double James. The Olympic MVP had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
"I never watched it again and I never want to," he said. "I have so many memories and I don't want to change the way that I look at the game."
Jovic still marvels at the Olympics Nikola Jokic had.
"He's the best player in the world," he said of the three-time NBA MVP. "He was our leader, the one we followed. We believed in everything he did.
"He gave so much to us you just had to follow him. I'm really happy I was able to be around him and I'm really happy that he came and he played with us."
The Olympic experience is one he'll never forget.
It was still special, even with the defeat to the Americans.
"It was nice," he said of the bronze. "It just shows how much it meant so much to us. We were so happy with what we got even though we didn't win the gold.
"It meant so much to us. We just celebrated. Our families were there."
FIBA