By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
According to a report by Mozzart Sport, NBA champion Nikola Jokic will not participate in the upcoming FIBA World Cup for the Serbian national team.
Svetislav Pesic had a round of talks with Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic also tried to convince the two-time NBA MVP, but in the end, the Denver Nuggets star decided to rest this summer.
That might be the biggest problem for the Serbian team, but not the only one. The same Serbian news outlet reports that Nikola Kalinic, a forward from Barcelona, also decided to skip the World Cup, while the two-time EuroLeague champion Vasilije Micic, after signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is highly doubtful to be on the team.
The official Serbian NT list will be released on Monday at a press conference attended by coach Svetislav Pesic and the new team captain of Bogdan Bogdanovic.
The first reports about Jokic potentially missing the World Cup appeared from US media just after Denver won the championship title, but were dismissed by the Serbian basketball federation.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo also doubtful for the FIBA World Cup, despite being part of the preliminary roster announced by the Greek national team, only Luka Doncic out of the top three European NBA stars has firmly stated that he will compete in the World Cup.
Domantas Sabonis is also out, leaving currently only Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic as the only members of this season’s three All-NBA selection teams available for the FIBA tournament.