By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Preparing and focused on the Denver Nuggets competing for the NBA championship, Nikola Jokic also compared feelings in the NBA Finals to representing Serbia in international tournaments.
“It is different when you play for Serbia,” he replied to a question during Media Day Saturday, “There is always a little bit more of emotions, adrenaline. The whole country is cheering for you. That is the dream of any player who ever played for a national team.”
“It’s not pressure, just emotions. Let’s say one little next level of everything,” the Joker added on the national team of his country.
Jokic, 28, was part of the Serbia senior national team in the 2022 EuroBasket. Previous international experience includes the 2019 World Cup. With the 2023 World Cup just around the corner, from 25 August to 10 September, he might make his way to Asia during the offseason.
Clearly, the 2023 NBA Finals and building on the 1-0 lead against the Heat is the task on hand.
“I am just playing. My focus has never been on those kinds of records or whatever the media are putting on me. I am just trying to win a game and just play every game, going step by step, playing every game to win the game. It is as simple as that,” Jokic described the approach to Game 2 and the rest of the best-of-seven series.
The next appointment with the Heat is set at Ball Arena Sunday evening.
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