MIES (Switzerland) - Nikola Jokic is the talk of the basketball world, putting together one amazing feat after the next, leading some to argue the Serbian big man is the NBA's greatest player currently in 2025. But rewind to his first taste of the global stage and Jokic wasn't even the most important player on his own U19 team. Or the second or third or some might say even the fourth best.
Let's journey back to the Czechia capital Prague to the summer of 2013 and Jokic's first opportunity to play for his homeland at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2013 - well before he was wowing fans across the globe with just the third triple-double in NBA history which included 60 points.
Serbia had qualified for the 2013 junior spectacle by finishing in third place at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2012. They lost to Spain and Lithuania in the first and second group stages respectively. Serbia beat Bulgaria in Quarter-Finals and then lost again to Lithuania in the Semi-Finals before bouncing back to defeat Russia to take the third spot on the podium.
Jokic was not part of the U18 team in 2012 - also because as a 1995-born player, he was a year younger than that generation. Still, Jokic made the team for Prague, along with one other bottom level player - Djoko Salic.
Jokic, a native of Sombor in the northern province of Vojvodina, grew up playing in the KK Vojvodina province before signing with Mega Vizura in December 2012 and ended up playing five games in the Serbian top flight that first season. And in February 2013, Jokic and Mega agreed on a four-year contract.
The big man went into his first experience with the national team without any pressure as the Serbian side had some strong level talent.
Vasilije Micic starred for the Serbs and would end up making the All-Star Five. The point guard would actually play for Serbia's senior team later in the summer at the FIBA EuroBasket 2013.
The team had a future star big man in Nikola Milutinov while Nikola Jankovic had been named to the All-Star Five of 2012 U18 EuroBasket and had already been playing professionally in Belgium the season leading into the event.
There was also the promising Stefan Pot, a big 1.96 meter point guard; while Jovan Novak had played previously at the U18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 2012 in Germany.
Further behind Jokic in the depth chart but as a sign of the strength of that Serbian team was Ognjen Dobric, who only played in three games in Prague, collecting 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal in a combined 21 minutes. Dobric would go on to become a critical part of the Serbian senior team.
"Keep an eye on him ... Too early to define his NBA potential. He has something intriguing. Deserves a second look."
But we are looking at Jokic for this piece.
He missed the opening game against Brazil and then started his tournament with just 2 points and 3 fouls in 6 minutes against Australia. Jokic was able to use his size in the final first round game with 7 points and 11 rebounds to go with 3 assists against Senegal.
Against Russia to open the second group phase, Jokic had 6 points and 4 rebounds in 11 minutes and followed that with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a win over China.
Serbia were guaranteed a spot in the Quarter-Finals and went up against United States in the next game to decide first place in the group. Jokic collected 10 points, 7 rebounds - 4 from the offensive glass and 3 assists in the loss. But Jokic had held his own in 21 minutes against the likes of future NBA players Jahlil Okafor, Aaron Gordon, Justice Winslow and Marcus Smart.
Jokic flashed a glimpse of his outside shooting ability in the Quarter-Finals, hitting 2 of 3 three-pointers for 8 points as well as 4 rebounds and 2 assists in beating Croatia. In the Semi-Finals, he picked up 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in his tournament high 25 minutes.
The Final was a rematch against USA and Jokic played well with 10 points for a second time including 2 of 4 three-pointers. He also picked up 3 rebounds in a second loss to the Americans.
But still, Jokic left Prague with a silver medal around his neck after being Serbia's sixth-leading scorer with 7.1 points and third most prolific rebounder at 5.0 boards per game. He shot 56.1 percent for the tournament, including 67.9 percent on two-pointers.
Looking at his highlights from the U19 World Cup, you can see glimpses of the Jokic that has turned into an NBA champion and three-time NBA MVP. There is his high arcing shot from the outside; he flashed some of his excellent passing skills from various spots on the court; he exhibited his good footwork and finishing skills around the basket; and also showed his strong rebounding.
Since he had not yet played at a youth national team tournament and the Serbian club Mega did not yet have its current-day reputation, not many NBA scouts had seen Jokic before he showed up in Prague. And what was their opinion?
Here is the scouting report of one unnamed Europe-based NBA scout:
Body and athleticism: Big size, very interesting body balance and control. Can run, maintains balance on lateral moves. Not explosive but has good timing for rebounding. Good basic coordination. Still growing Rebounding: Not great but good. Has good feel for the ball and positioning more than leaping and above everybody elevation Offense: Good presence. With him on the floor team's offense is more fluid. Not a main option but he does a bit of everything, outlet passes on fast breaks, screens and moves, fills empty space off the ball, still raw but has a dual dimension of face and back to the basket. Shooting: His mechanic needs some fixing. Some times he steps out for 3s. Shooting efficiency is not good enough even if touch is not bad. Elbow is a bit too high and needs to correct shoulder swinging Defense: Covers space in the lane, can alter some shots even if not a pure rim protector or shot blocker. Sometimes commits hand checking foul but overall can move laterally. Not agile enough for wing defense In sum: Keep an eye on him. Still growing, needs playing time. Has good presence on the floor and good feel for the game. Big body. Too early to define his NBA potential. He has something intriguing. Deserves a second look.
It is so intriguing to read that report knowing everything that happened since then.
He ended up being selected with the 41st pick of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What about that NBA scout and his thoughts more than a decade later.
"I have one regret, as I liked him at draft time and (unnamed NBA team) decided not to make any move on the draft and give up a second rounder. I should have pushed to say: Hey if you do not like anybody else bet on him."
The aforementioned scout's NBA team is not the only franchise to pass on Jokic. The Nuggets passed on him twice in the same draft. Through trades they selected Bosnia and Herzegovina big man Jusuf Nurkic with the 16th pick and then got Gary Harris with the 19th pick.
And Jokic was just a speculative pick by Denver in the second round. Little did anyone know he would become what he became. But it's fun looking back on how Nikola Jokic played in Prague back in the summer of 2013 - when he was an unknown raw diamond.
FIBA