LeBron James – Nikola Jokicsame fight. After having exceeded the 300 points registered at the Olympic Games, the first assures that he is not interested in his statistics during the Olympic Games, since the main thing is to win the gold medal.
For the Serbian pivot, it's the same. In the big win against Puerto Rico, he finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. If he hadn't joined the bench for the end of the game, maybe he could have given that last pass to make a triple-double, very rare in an Olympic competition. The public was waiting for it…
“We've heard fans screaming and asking for Nikola Jokic to come back, but I think he's tired of hearing about the stats. He's so dominant and, I can tell, he doesn't play for the numbers.”, explains Bogdan Bogdanovic. “I think he doesn't care.”adds Nikola Milutinov.
Only three “triple-doubles” in the history of the Olympics
After two games, the three-time Denver MVP is averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8.5 assists and, absent from the 2023 World Cup, his presence obviously changes things for the Serbs.
“With him, it's even easier,” Bogdanovic continues. “But we rely on a collective style and it doesn't matter who shines. I've been part of this team for over ten years and I've seen it, and it's always one or two players who make the difference, but not always the same ones. We have leaders, experienced players, but everyone is very well trained, motivated and can raise their level in each game.”
After this reaction, following the defeat against Team USA, Serbia will finish its group stage against South Sudan. A match that will undoubtedly decide the second place in this group C, behind the Americans.
