A lot can be said for the approach from Nikola Jokic. Oftentimes he's seen as someone who treats playing basketball as the average person would (insert the first one that comes to mind) any ordinary job. It's fair to question how or why a certain level of intensity will be displayed by the Serbian, but that's a conversation for another day. Instead, what fans have witnessed throughout the Olympics and for much of international play in general, is how much the game means outside of the United States.
Being able to suit up and play for one's country is a big deal, no matter how the media slices it. For NBA players who grew up and developed their skills overseas, being able to represent their country and showcase their nation's talent and skill set in a major tournament is a chance that they are unwilling to give up. Yes, most of the NBA player pool will continue to stem from American high schools.
And the world isn't catching up in the strict sense of another league forming somewhere else to rival the NBA or for Team USA to not be considered prohibitive favorites anytime they step foot on the court. Instead, what that statement should mean is that under the right circumstances and conditions, a talented player who has the drive can position himself to make waves in the world of basketball and to place the collective efforts of his countrymen on a higher pedestal for millions to marvel at. So when the Denver Nuggets center is shown passionately competing for team Serbia, it shouldn't exactly come as a surprise.
As they went on to defeat Germany 93-83, Nikola Jokic scored 19 points, had 12 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists. This marked the first time that two players in the same Olympics were able to grab a triple-double. Furthermore, he was already on a short list of people who have been able to accomplish this feat. But a lot of what he displayed simply illustrates why he has the reputation that he does despite the consistent output. His play style doesn't require him to jump through the roof like Ja Morant.
And while a capable three-point shooter, he's not going to dance and razzle dazzle like Steph Curry. Moreover, he is a gifted passer, but he doesn't have the matching athletic ability or overall toolkit that LeBron James does or the handles and agility of, say, Kevin Durant. Instead, he utilizes what comes naturally to him. He uses his size to garner an advantage down low. He looks for mismatches as they come his way. And even when it's not an outright advantage, his skill set and cunningness allow him to score at will or make the right basketball play anyway.
It's understandable how this could be misinterpreted as being lazy, but instead he's someone who best plays within himself at all times. Team basketball and giving up individual accolades is often celebrated, as it should be. But when you have him on the court, the best path toward team success comes when the offense flows through him and he's allowed to either isolate down low or draw a double team and make spectacular passes to open and in-rhythm teammates, as seen on display in the bronze medal game.
Fans misinterpreting the 'two sides' of Nikola Jokic
So when the final whistle blew and Serbia was officially the third-place winner, it shouldn't have come as a surprise as to what led to this in the first place. The big man is someone who demanded heavy minutes and heavy usage. He was first in many stats throughout the tournament. And his desire to bring home hardware for his nation drove spectacular play throughout his time in Paris.
That's not to say that he doesn't show passion or doesn't care when playing at Ball Arena. But fans must concede that it is different. Everyone goes through the process differently and reacts to obstacles in their own way. But Nikola Jokic is consistently one of the best basketball players in the world, regardless of which jersey he's wearing or how others choose to interpret his body language.
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