“Everything is easy to him”: What EuroBasket stars say about Jokic

MUNICH (Germany) – Nikola Jokic has already collected his share of hardware – winning the 2023 NBA championship as well as three NBA Most Valuable Player trophies. The Serbian big man has yet to reach the podium at a FIBA EuroBasket but his opponents rave about Jokic’s game.

FIBA asked a series of stars who will be leading their national teams in a week about Jokic and the Serbian center impresses fans and fellow star players alike. The responses ranged from Jokic will be an all-time legend, to making his teammates’ life easier to just hoping the point center has an off-night.

“Highest confidence I’ve ever seen”

Bogdan Bogdanovic has been playing with and against Jokic for multiple years. While he goes against the big man in the NBA, Bogdanovic gets to play alongside him with Serbia. And Bogdanovic is impressed with what many don’t see in him.

“Everybody knows about his IQ and feel for the game, but what really makes him special is his basketball shape for his size – his ability to run and his conditioning,” said Bogdanovic. “He brings probably the highest confidence that I’ve ever had playing with anyone else.”

He makes life easier

Just like Bogdanovic, Aleksa Avramovic has the advantage of playing with Jokic. And it makes things much easier for the Serbian wing.

“His basketball IQ on and off the court is absolutely unbelievable. He has all the information about basketball in his mind. He thinks really quick and makes decisions really quick and literally he doesn’t have a bad decision. That’s why he is the best,” Avramovic said.

“With him on the court our chances are bigger. He’s someone who makes life easier for others on the court. He makes my life easier.”

He will be a legend

Furkan Kormaz was not afraid to put Jokic really high on an all-time pedestal.

“It’s a lot of fun to watch him. It’s hard to describe Jokic. We are lucky to watch him. 15 or 20 years from now, I don’t know how much higher we will speak of him but he will really be a legend,” the Turkish star said.

You have to see it to understand it

Mateusz Ponitka of Poland said Jokic’s mix of talents and skillset are just different.

“Nikola Jokic is an example that you cannot describe in one word. He’s somebody unique. He has multiple talents, his basketball IQ, his feeling for basketball … you cannot find it. It’s difficult. You have to see it to understand that this is something special,” Ponitka said.

“In every sport you have some examples of sportsmen who are just different and right now Nikola is differnent. The way of play, the way of understanding, the mix of talents that he has. It’s so unusual that it makes him a special player.”

Hope it’s his off-night

Greece’s guard Tyler Dorsey said opponents really only have one chance when they are facing Jokic.

“It’s like with the other great players, you hope it’s his off-night,” Dorsey said. “He’s unorthodox. I can’t find another player that actually plays like him – at any level. It’s hard to figure out, you can’t figure it out.”

Spanish NBA star Santi Aldama offered a similar response, saying: “He always makes the right read. If he doesn’t have the ball, it’s probably better for us.”

Winner with no ego

Nicolo Melli says Jokic is probably the best player in the world and the Italian big man actually enjoys watching him play – especially since the Italians defeated Serbia in the Round of 16 at the EuroBasket 2022.

“Watching him, what stands out is how easy everything comes to him. He’s a winner but he doesn’t have this ego that many of those players at that level have. It’s just fun to watch him and every time I had the opportunity to play against him it was a big challenge to try to limit him,” said Melli.

He knows what will happen

Sasu Salin called Jokic special and the Finnish marksman said his basketball level is on another level.

“He knows exactly what’s going to happen in like two seconds. He knows how to pass the ball, he knows how to shoot. His size is a big advantage for him. He’s not the fastest or most athletic, but the basketball IQ is just on another level,” Salin remarked.

He’s a point center … and coach

German guard Andreas Obst is impressed with Jokic’s leadership skills, both on and off the court.

“He’s so physical but so skilled. So much patience but also such a high IQ: Reads the game super well; knows exactly where his teammates are. He’s like a point center. He’s also kind of like a coach,” said Obst.

“He runs the team. He can shoot, he can score, rebound, pass, dribble. It’s really hard to find a defensive system against him.”

“The Joker”

Willy Hernangomez just laughed when asked about Jokic and said: “‘The Joker’. He’s able to do everything. He’s the MVP, the best player in the world. Great great guy.”

FIBA