Nikola Jokic has opted in to FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will be staying busy this offseason.
With the FIBA World Cup taking place over the summer of 2027, preparations are already being made across the world and this summer, a number of qualifiers for the World Cup will take place, where national teams will compete to secure their places in the tournament next summer.
Some NBA stars have already announced they'll be opting out of the qualifiers for their respective national teams, such as Luka Doncic for Slovenia and Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece, but Jokic has decided he will compete for his home country of Serbia in the qualifier windows this summer.
Jokic Competing
Serbian national team head coach Dusan Alimpijevic confirmed the news, according to a post on X from EuroHoops, that Jokic will play in the World Cup qualifiers this upcoming July and August.
Jokic played in just 65 games this season, the lowest in a season of his career, after dealing with a series of injuries. The aforementioned stars that opted out of their national team qualifiers, Doncic and Antetokounmpo, had similarly injury-troubled seasons, though that hasn't seemed to deter Jokic at all.
Despite his injuries this season, Jokic still had another stellar season, averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game and coming second in MVP voting while leading the Nuggets to a third-seed finish in the Western Conference.
The Benefits of International Competition
The season ultimately ended in disappointment after an upset at the hands of the the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, but competing internationally may be a way for Jokic to keep up his competitive edge and get over the sting of defeat at the hands of Minnesota.
Serbia power forward Nikola Jokic (15) celebrates on the podium with teammates after winning the bronze medal in men's basketball during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesConsidering that a lack of fight and competitiveness was one of the main criticisms given to the Nuggets, and to Jokic in particular, after that series loss, finding some fire on the world stage could be exactly what Jokic needs.
Still, putting extra strain on his body may be something that could worry Nuggets fans who would rather see a full and healthy season out of their star player next season.
Serbia power forward Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball against Germany guard Nick Weiler-Babb (6) in the men's basketball bronze medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Rob Schumacher-Imagn ImagesJokic has represented Serbia in international play several times, including in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where Serbia won silver, and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Serbia won bronze. Jokic also played for the Serbian national team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
He competed in the 2013 U19 World Championship, representing team Czech Republic and winning silver.
