OLYMPIC GAMES
Nikola Jokic “scares” Team USA, says former NBA champion
The three-time NBA MVP will be the man to watch as the United States face Serbia in Thursday’s semi-final.
Team USA are now just one game from the final in the men’s basketball competition but a considerable obstacle stands in their way. Their semi-final opponent is Serbia, led by Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, helped the Nuggets to a championship in 2023 and is looking to do the same for the national team in Paris. In the quarter-final win over Australia Jokic rallied his team and put up back-to-back clutch baskets to snatch the victory.
Speaking after the game, ESPN pundit and former NBA star Kendrick Perkins said that Jokic had highlighted his reputation as the world’s best.
“He proved today that he’s still the best player in the world,” Perkins said on ESPN. “And I know KD, Bron, they’ve been putting on the show and obviously, because we live in the United States and we’re supporting our team because of our country. But at the end of the day, Jokic is still the best player in the world.”
Perkins says Team USA is ‘scared’ of Jokic
Jokic’s importance to his team is clear, leading them to the semi-finals in Paris. Across the first four games Jokic has averaged 19.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks. So far, he is in the tournament’s top three for points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
What makes Jokic so unique, and so important to this Serbian side, is the breadth of his involvement in a game. He contributes in both the offensive and defensive phases; he leads the team for scoring and acts as the primary playmaker too.
“When it comes down to what he’s doing,” Kendrick Perkins said of Jokic’s performances. “He’s doing more with less. And it’s no knock to his teammates. Those guys could play, but they’re not stacked like Team USA…Jokic scares everyone. Like everyone, including the guys that are representing our country.”
Team USA beat Serbia 110-84 earlier in the tournament but they will not get an easy ride in Thursday’s rematch.
US head coach Steve Kerr said: “We have to be prepared for their best effort, we have to think about what are they gonna do differently, Jokic - does he play 40 minutes? What else could they have up their sleeve? Or do they just play their game and give it another crack? But every game is so different and unique.”