Nikola Jokic looked like he had never been away from the basketball court as he made his return to action with Serbia.
It has been a typically low-key offseason for Nikola Jokic, returning to his homeland where he spent time with his family’s horse-racing business.
Jokic’s last NBA action came in the Western Conference semifinals Game 7, when the Denver Nuggets were defeated by the eventual champions Oklahoma City Thunder, having pushed them all the way.
The former MVP is back on the court with Serbia as they prepare for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament.
Nikola Jokic and Serbia competed in a friendly game against Greece, that turned out to be a little disappointing.
This was because fellow NBA superstar and former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out, and did not play the game. They may meet at a later date.
Greece still pushed Serbia hard during the game but it lacked an edge, and when Nikola Jokic returned to play in the fourth quarter after sitting part of the third, they pulled away to record a 76-66 victory.
Jokic was his typically dominant self. He scored 23 points and recorded 19 rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
He did not need to be at his best, shooting 0-for-2 from three and 8-14 from the field, per Sofascore. He also only had four assists, which perhaps said more about his teammates.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jovic were the next highest scoring Serbia players after Jokic, with 9 points each.
Serbia will be among the favorites for the EuroBasket tournament, and their hopes will rest on Nikola Jokic.
This game showed he is the model of consistency, and his national press reacted with excitement about his performance.
Serbian outlet Mozzart Sport wrote: “The best basketball player in the world had 23 points and 19 rebounds.
“We didn’t play close to our real offensive potential, we had good and bad moments, just like in the defense, which in the end ruled with the pure, timeless talent of Nikola Jokic,
“Although it is obvious to the eye that he is not yet in optimal shape, Jokic played a fantastic game. Like a real giant.”
The Kurir newspaper cast a critical eye at Serbia’s performance and wondered what might have been the outcome without Jokic.
Their headline read: “What would have happened if he did not come back from vacation? Look at what Nikola Jokic did to the Greeks, everyone is in disbelief.”
Their report added: “This was a textbook match for Nikola Jokic, and let’s remember, the “joker” has not yet reached the peak of his form.”
Serbian outlet Mondo posted: “The Serbian center did literally whatever he wanted in the match.”
Jokic’s Serbia are next in action in the Super Cup against Czech Republic on August 15, before their EuroBasket campaign begins against Estonia on August 27.
