Denver, CO – May 19, 2025 | By Courtside Europe
The air in the Ball Arena press room was heavy — not just from the weight of a Game 7 loss, but from the silence that often follows the sudden end of a championship chase.
Nikola Jokić, still in his warm-up jacket, leaned back at the podium, the dim lighting catching the quiet exhaustion in his eyes. The Denver Nuggets had just been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs in a dramatic 4–3 series loss to the surging Oklahoma City Thunder. After another MVP-caliber season, it was a bitter end — but not a bitter man.
When asked about his future — not with the Nuggets, but with Team Serbia — Jokić cracked the smallest of smiles.
“I need to decide,” he said, pausing thoughtfully. “There is a EuroBasket.”
That’s FIBA EuroBasket 2025, one of the most prestigious international basketball tournaments, scheduled to run from August 27 to September 14, with Group A games hosted in Riga, Latvia. Serbia is set to face Estonia, Portugal, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Turkiye in the group stage.
But whether Jokić will anchor the team in the paint this summer? That’s still up in the air.
“I need to talk with the coaches and some of the main players, let’s say like that,” he added. “And we will see. But for now… for the next couple of days, there will be a lot of beer, probably.”
The comment drew laughs in the room, and even a few smiles from reporters who, like Jokić, were still shaking off the tension of a high-stakes playoff exit.
The Weight of Another Season
Jokić had once again put together a historic season — his third MVP in five years, and his fifth straight top-two MVP finish — a feat only matched by Larry Bird. He carried Denver through injuries and inconsistency, but in Game 7, the Thunder simply outlasted them.
As he addressed the media, the 6’11” center appeared calm but reflective, eyes glancing occasionally at the stat sheet beside him. His tone shifted when asked about the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he helped lead Serbia to a bronze medal.
“I think the Olympics made me even better,” Jokić said. “Playing for your country with different rules, different players… it sharpens your game. It’s different basketball. It makes you grow.”
That experience, he hinted, is something he values deeply — but balancing national pride with rest and recovery remains a personal battle.
Waiting on a Decision
According to Serbian Basketball Federation president Nebojsa Covic, there’s optimism. In a recent interview with Sportal.rs, Covic stated that Jokić, alongside Bogdan Bogdanović and other core players, are “expected to be available” for EuroBasket.
But with less than 100 days until tip-off, the Serbian camp knows they’ll need a definitive answer soon.
“We respect Nikola’s schedule and what he’s just come through,” said a source close to the national team. “He’s given a lot to Serbia. But we know what he means to this squad — and we’ll be waiting.”
A Few Beers First… Then the Future
For now, Jokić’s mind isn’t on playbooks or rosters. It’s on rest, reflection, and, as he playfully repeated, “a lot of beer.” The 30-year-old understands what’s ahead — both the physical and emotional demands of international play. And like everything he does, his decision will be thoughtful, deliberate, and in his own time.
In the meantime, the world waits. Serbia waits. And so does the EuroBasket stage — hoping to welcome back one of the most dominant, beloved, and unique players the game has ever seen.
Whether it’s on the NBA hardwood or the FIBA stage, Jokić continues to play the game on his own terms — and the world watches every move.
