Fans of the Denver Nuggets and the NBA in general are well accustomed to seeing Nikola Jokic put on a show on a basketball court. But now sports fans and the world at large are getting a glimpse at his greatness.
In the latest installment of brilliance by the Joker, Jokic led Serbia to a dramatic overtime victory over Australia in the quarterfinals of the Olympics. Serbia was down by as many as 24 points in the first half before storming back to eventually win in overtime 95-90.
Jokic does it all on both ends, lifting Serbia to victory over Australia
Jokic was superb on both ends, notching 21 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals. His impact was undeniable and he saved some of his biggest moments for the overtime period. As usual, he did it all on the court, and his play on the defensive end was almost as impressive as his stellar offensive game.
He had a huge block and steal in the extra session, handed out a key assist for a three-pointer, corralled almost every board, and hit the go-ahead shot and then an incredible fadeaway to put Serbia up by three points with under a minute to play.
This was an outstanding basketball game all around. The Aussies jumped out to a massive lead thanks to some incredible shooting in the early going. Patty Mills and Josh Giddey both had exceptional games and kept their team in it until the final buzzer.
But ultimately, Jokic and Serbia were too much and they were able to wear down Australia in the second half and overtime, ultimately pulling off a huge victory. The win sends Serbia into the semifinals and sends Australia home with nothing to show for their efforts.
Social media erupts over Jokic and Serbia
Seeing the reaction on social media to an international game, taking place early in the morning for Americans, not involving the United States was incredible. Fans and media members were gushing about the level of play and excellence displayed by Jokic.
He earned praise from every corner of the internet and he continues to supplant his standing as the best basketball player on planet earth. Even if the Serbians fall in the semifinals, they’ve already guaranteed themselves a shot at a medal and it’s mostly thanks to the reigning NBA MVP.