Nikola Jokic Commits to Play for Serbian National Team This Summer, Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out Due to Injury

Posted on by Jack Marks

The Basketball Federation of Serbia, KSS, said Wednesday that NBA MVP Nikola Jokic would play for the Serbia national team this offseason as soon as he is able. Nikola Jokic, the two-time MVP, is proud to represent Serbia, and it has now been confirmed that he will do so later this summer, just before NBA training camps begin.

Jokic will play for Serbia at EuroBasket, which begins in September, as predicted, although he has yet to report to the squad. He most recently represented Serbia in the 2019 World Cup.

Nikola Jokic

Jokic may play for Serbia in the August round of World Cup qualifying games and then compete in EuroBasket by reporting to his national team later.

Nikola Jokic to miss Bogdan Bogdanovic in EuroBasket

Bogdan Bogdanovic experienced pain in his knee, which worsened at the conclusion of the season, as previously reported. The Hawks’ star had surgery on his right knee a few weeks ago, and his recuperation time is expected to be more than three months. Bogdanovic will not play for NT for the first time since 2013.

“For sure, the NBA players have a maximum amount of days they can spend with the national team of their country during the offseason. Nikola Jokic will be with the national team the first day he can, according to these restrictions,” Dragan Tarlac said. 

“We hear from each other almost every day. The procedure went well, at a clinic in California. He will stay in the USA for another month, and then he should come to Serbia, Belgrade,” said Dragan Radovanovic, doctor of the Serbian national basketball team.

Serbia will compete in EuroBasket 2022 in Group D, where they will face the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Israel, and the Netherlands. Bogdanovic, who is 29 years old, has averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 63 games this season.