The uniforms were different, but the outcome was all too familiar for Nikola Jokic on Saturday, as Serbia was shockingly eliminated from EuroBasket in the round of 16. The Serbians were favored to win the tournament before it started, and they looked great early in pool play, but they fizzled out as the games went on.
Bogdan Bogdanovic went down with an injury, and the team became thin. Suddenly, Jokic looked like he didn’t have enough help, and as has been the case in the past two Nuggets seasons, the team ran out of gas.
Injuries and his teammates let down Jokic. He did his best and fought valiantly, but he needed more from those around him, and they weren’t able to deliver. It’s a frustrating end to a tournament that was supposed to be a coronation of sorts for Jokic. This was supposed to be the start of a storybook season of basketball, but there was no happy ending here.
Lauri Markkanen and Finland eliminate Jokic and Serbia
Team Serbia first looked vulnerable in the final game of group play when they lost a back-and-forth duel with Alperen Sengun and Turkey. Then in the first knockout round, Lauri Markkanen was able to lead the charge for Finland as they took down the Serbians, 92-86.
After winning Bronze at the Olympics, Serbia had massive ambitions and thought this would be a massive breakthrough and a great chance to bring a championship back to Serbia. It was also a huge opportunity for Jokic to dominate on the international stage and show that he owns Europe.
Instead, it’s an incredibly disappointing result and a stunning early exit that will have fans scratching their heads. Meanwhile, other European NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Franz Wagner, and Markkanen play on, hoping to win gold for their respective countries.
Nuggets' depth should change narrative for Jokic
The good news for Jokic is that, hopefully, this will be the last time that he’s let down by his teammates. The Nuggets have had a great offseason, completely bolstering their rotation and fortifying the bench with proven veterans to complement the youth movement.
Jokic shouldn’t have to single-handedly will his team to victory any longer. He’ll be incredibly disappointed by this EuroBasket result, but now he can focus on training camp and getting ready for the NBA season. If anything, this may even provide some extra motivation for the three-time MVP.