NIKOLA Jokic will not suit up for Serbia in the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup.
The two-time MVP joins a long list of NBA stars who have either been ruled out or opted out from national team duties in the global showpiece next month.
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Instead, it will be Atlanta Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic leading the Serbians’ offense that also includes three other namesakes of the newly hailed NBA champion in Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic, Nikola Topic, and Nikola Milutinov.
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As per multiple reports, Jokic opted out of Serbia’s 20-man roster for the World Cup as he intends to get extended rest after Denver’s maiden title romp back in June.
This means that Filipino fans won’t get to see the Joker in action, with Serbia set to play its preliminary games in Group B at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Jokic becomes the sixth elite NBA big man to skip the tournament after reigning league MVP Joel Embiid (France), Victor Wembanyama (France), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Rui Hachimura (Japan), and Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania).
With or without its golden boy, the world No. 6 will parade a fine mix of young guns and veteran wingers against Puerto Rico, China, and South Sudan in the group stage beginning August 26.
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