Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic isn’t denying how important Nikola Jokic is to the program even if he skipped the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
But he offered, too, that it would be a disservice for the others who are serving flag and country in the ongoing global cage meet if the attention will still be centered on the two-time NBA MVP, given that they have just reached the Final.
“I don’t know [if] it is the right moment to talk about Jokic,” the decorated mentor said during the postgame press conference of their 95-86 semis win over Canada at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Friday night.
“I can say Jokic will always be a part of the because he’s the best player in the world at the moment. A great person. Now, I think, is not the time to talk too much about Jokic. Now is the time to talk about the players that are here.”
(C) FIBA.basketball
Serbia reached the Big Dance for the second time in the last three editions of the World Cup even without Jokic, who decided to skip the competition to take a break as he’s coming off a championship run with the Denver Nuggets.
Not a few doubted the Orlovi on how they would fare without the 28-year-old, but the crew wasted no time showing that they’re just all fine.
They beat China, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan to top Group B, then finished as the no. 2 team in Group I in the Second Round to reach the quarters.
The Serbians even upped the ante come the knockouts. They ousted Lithuania, 86-67, then methodically beat the Canadians to give themselves another shot at the Naismith Trophy after falling short in 2014 against the United States.
That is why for Marko Guduric, who’s been with the men’s team since 2017, the players present totally deserve the spotlight.
“It doesn’t matter who’s not here. It’s all about this group of guys, whoever is here, whoever is wearing this Serbia jersey,” said the seasoned forward, who finished with 12 points versus the team from North America.
“We never give up. We fight ’til the end. It’s in our blood. We are proud of our country and we represent our families, our people, and, you see, the crowd that we have here. I cannot imagine how it is now in Serbia,” he added.
“But, yeah, like I said, it really doesn’t matter who’s not here. It’s all about whoever can play will give a hundred percent, even more.”
