Serbia had a wonderful showing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. That was without three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic who was not on the roster. Serbia earned a silver medal as their impressive run ended with a loss to Germany in the gold medal game.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics taking place next month, Serbia should be one of the countries with the best chance of derailing stacked USA’s dreams of gold. There is also a chance that Jokic will be on Serbia’s roster.
Serbia’s Preliminary Olympics Roster Includes Three-Time MVP
Will Nikola Jokic Play In The Olympics?
The 29-year-old Jokic has yet to make it clear whether he will play in the 2024 Olympics. While Serbia performed well without him at the FIBA World Cup, their nation was hopeful that he would take part in the Olympics. Perhaps it can be seen as a positive sign when he was included on Serbia’s preliminary roster.
Nikola Jokic was included on Serbia’s preliminary roster for the Olympics.
Jokic joins Serbia for a medal run with a strong roster also featuring Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jovic. pic.twitter.com/sYoIsR1Yd9
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 10, 2024
Their preliminary roster consists of 16 players. That group of 16 will need to be cut down to 12 prior to the Olympics starting. After his rookie season in 2015-16, the 6-11″ Jokic participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He helped guide Serbia to a silver medal.
Now nine seasons deep into his NBA career, Jokic was named MVP for the third time in four seasons in 2023-24. The one season he didn’t win (2022-23), his Denver Nuggets won the championship and he was named Finals MVP. The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals this season.
NBA Champion ✅
Finals MVP ✅
Regular Season MVP ✅✅Jokić has officially joined the list of greatest centers ever. pic.twitter.com/VwAmoPZFM0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2023
Over the last four seasons, Jokic has averages of 26.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. The center has shot 58.8% from the field, 36.4% from three-point territory, and 82.8% from the free throw line. He has been named to the All-Star Game in each of the last six seasons. Jokic has unexpectedly become a top player after he wasn’t drafted until 41st overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Familiar Names On Preliminary Roster
Fans of the NBA should be aware of players other than Jokic on Serbia’s preliminary roster. Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic finished fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting this season. Second-year forward Nikola Jovic became a fixture in the Miami Heat’s starting lineup in 2023-24.
In his first season in the NBA, 30-year-old guard Vasilije Micic really saw his playing time increase once he was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets. Forward Aleksej Pokusevski was a first-round pick in 2020. Center Filip Petrusov played in three games this season. Marko Guduric played 44 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019-20.
While Serbia’s chances of success improve significantly with Jokic on the roster, there is still enough talent for Serbia to have a chance to medal without him.
