DENVER (USA) - The Joker remains steadfast in his belief that playing FIBA ball is a boost for his career.
Of course, playing with the national team, it's unique emotions, (a) unique feeling...
Not long removed from his latest FIBA EuroBasket experience with Serbia, in Riga, Nikola Jokic, 30, was all about playing for his national team at the Denver Nugget's media day.
“I think it helps to play a different type of basketball, (to have) different teammates, different rules," he answered.
“It helps just to give you some other options ... you can learn. You can learn from every player that I play against in the European Championship, so, I think it definitely helps."
The three-time NBA MVP of the Denver Nuggets reached the 2016 Olympic Final in Rio de Janeiro and claimed a bronze medal at the Paris Games last year, yet podium finishes have eluded him at the FIBA EuroBasket. Jokic and Serbia fell in Round of 16 upsets to Italy in 2022 and to Finland this summer. His lone FIBA Basketball World Cup participation ended with a fifth place in 2019.
He hardly put a foot wrong in Riga.
Jokic began EuroBasket 2025 with three straight double-doubles in points and rebounds. In the tournament overall, he averaged 22.3 points, 9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. His Serbia career high of 39 points on 15 of 26 (57.7 percent) shooting from the floor and 8 of 8 FTs in a 84-80 triumph over Latvia in the Group Phase was one of the best performances for any player at the tournament.
His 30.3 efficiency per game ranked third overall behind Slovenia’s Luka Doncic (36.6 EFFPG) and Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.6 EFFPG).
Excellent is always an adjective for his play, even in extremely hard competition.
Just last summer at the Olympics, his 31.0 EFFPG ranked first among all players. After, he spoke of how challenging the international game was.
"Is it harder?" he said, when asked about international basketball by a reporter in Denver.
"Yes, because I think you really need to have quick thinking. In the NBA, if you go by the guy, you can see the help is coming. In Europe, help is always there. So, you need to think and play ahead."
He also talked about the emotional aspect of representing his country, when comparing FIBA ball to the NBA.
"Of course, playing with the national team, it's unique emotions, (a) 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."
By playing this summer, Jokic remained sharp and will hit the ground running once the Nuggets campaign is underway.
FIBA