Is Nikola Jokic playing in the 2024 Paris Olympics? Closer look at Serbia's squad
The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to begin this month, and one of the biggest question marks surrounding the tournament still remains: Will the three-time NBA MVP from Serbia, Nikola Jokic, join his home nation's team?
Jokic's name was included on Serbia's preliminary roster released early in June, meaning he has not yet declined the option to play. The speculation over his availability comes after his comments following the Denver Nuggets' playoff exit, when he remarked that he "needs to think about" whether or not he will represent his country this summer. Rosters will be locked after their first game against the USA on July 28.
It's been eight years since he last played for Serbia in the Olympics, contributing to their silver-medal finish in 2016. Jokic, however, was a bench player that summer, and in the gold medal game against the USA, he only scored six points in a 96-66 beatdown.
Last year, the team competed in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup without Jokic and finished in second place behind Germany. Their run included impressive wins over Lithuania and Canada, two international squads also gaining more recognition for their NBA talent and growth on the floor.
So, whether or not Jokic decides to play, the country will still bring a motivated and talent-laden group to Paris.
Who else will represent the Serbian national team?
Aside from Jokic, several current NBA players will likely help Serbia try to earn a medal this summer. In Serbia's FIBA run last year, it was led by Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who dazzled with 19.1 points and 4.6 assists per game across the tournament. He's on a four-year, $68 million contract with the Hawks, making him the top Serbian earner in the league after Jokic.
The team will also hope to get a spark from Heat guard Nikola Jovic, who came on the scene for his country in 2023, averaging 10.1 ppg. He'll be expected to take a leap for the team this year after continuing to develop in the NBA.
The only other Serbian player with an active NBA contract is Charlotte Hornets forward Aleksej Pokuševski, a stretch big who's comfortable with the ball in his hands on the perimeter. He scored 7.4 ppg for the Hornets last season.
Other notable players include Nikola Milutinov, who plays for the Greek club Olympiacos in the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague. The 7-foot big man scored 12.1 points and pulled down 8.4 rebounds per game for his country in the 2023 FIBA tournament and could join Jokic to form one of the most dominant interior duos in the upcoming Olympics.
They make up Group C of the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside the USA, Puerto Rico and South Sudan, where they'll hope to upset the USA or come out of the group in second place, with or without Jokic.