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“…may God help them”: Nikola Jokic’s Serbia squad is the best bet in 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

By Michael Walton

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Nikola Jokic #14 of Serbia during the Gold Medal Game on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Nikola Jokic #14 of Serbia during the Gold Medal Game on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Team USA rival of Nikola Jokic,
Team USA rival of Nikola Jokic, /

The most obvious place to start is Team USA’s historically weak roster. Now for as much as the point has been hammered home, the roster is still deeper than most countries and filled with NBA talent. But the precise type of talent that is missing is a proven top-level talent who could pull Team USA out of a slump in a close contest, the exact type of talent that Serbia does possess in Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

Celtics scorers Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, as well as Jazz star Donovan Mitchell,  could all take the reigns as the Gregg Popovich’s crunch-time scorer but this young squad is sure to have some mishaps and learning experiences along the way. Serbia will have an intriguing mixture of young talent and FIBA experience on their roster and will be hungry for revenge on Team USA, even more so after a silver medal finish in 2014.

For the first time in a very, very long time, the best player in the event is without a doubt not on Team USA. That title would for sure go to reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be suiting up for Greece after averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in his best year as a pro.

In a story released by the Ringer on Monday, you could see that this year’s Team USA will have the fewest amount of NBA All-Stars since 1998 when NBA players were not allowed on the roster. It will be an uphill battle for Popovich and co., and it will take more teamwork than usual for the Americans to get the job done without a singular talent capable of covering up for a lackluster defensive effort.

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