Serbia’s Nikola Jokić Dominates Giannis-less Greece In Exhibition

The NBA season is still over two months away, but three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić is getting his work in.

Jokić suited up on Saturday in Cyprus for the Serbian national team as it took on Greece (playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo) in an exhibition in preparation for the 42nd EuroBasket tournament, which starts on August 27.

Serbia defeated Greece 76-66, per BasketNews. Jokić finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and four assists on 8-for-14 from the field.

Greece had no answers for the Denver Nuggets megastar, especially without Antetokounmpo on its side. Giannis opted to skip the exhibition as he continues to abide by a strict offseason workout regimen in Greece. 

Jokić isn’t the only NBA player suiting up for Serbia these days. Bogdan Bogdanović (Los Angeles Clippers) scored nine points on Saturday, as did Nikola Jović (Miami Heat).

Jokić, 30, is coming off a statistical marvel of a season with the Nuggets. The all-time great averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists for Denver on 57.6 percent shooting from the field, 41.7 percent from three, and 80 percent from the line. With those numbers, it’s not shocking that some fans and analysts believe Jokić deserved to win the 2024-25 NBA MVP award over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

With Jokić and other global superstars like Luka Dončić competing for glory, EuroBasket should be an entertaining spectacle when it tips off in two and a half weeks. Also competing in EuroBasket for Portugal — Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta.