One of Nikola Jokic’s teammates from Serbia believes one of his biggest assets doesn’t get talked about enough.
Nikola Jokic is one of the greatest players in basketball history and is still in his prime. The Serbian sensation has left a huge mark on the sport.
After a difficult season with the Denver Nuggets, Jokic has joined the Serbian national team ahead of an important EuroBasket tournament.
Jokic has already impressed fans with his athleticism. And as he and the Serbian national team prepare for a grueling set of fixtures, his teammates have spoken quite highly of him.
In particular, it’s fellow NBA star Bogdan Bogdanovic who gushed about Jokic, identifying a weapon in his arsenal that makes him so difficult to stop.
Bogdan Bogdanovic says Nikola Jokic thrives because of his conditioning
Bogdan Bogdanovic spoke recently in an interview with FIBA (via BasketNews) about playing alongside Nikola Jokic on the Serbian national team.
While Jokic’s court vision and passing are unmatched, Bogdanovic believes his motor and conditioning make him an excellent teammate and so easy to play with.
“I think everybody knows about his IQ and feel for the game, but what is really making him special, I think, is his basketball shape for his size, the ability to run, and conditioning.
“His front vision. I feel like he knows what’s going to happen steps ahead. It brings probably the highest confidence that I got to play with anyone else.”
Jokic has looked great with the Serbian national team, putting up a 23-point, 19-rebound performance against Greece in a recent warm-up game.
Serbia feel confident despite being the favorites to win EuroBasket
Speaking further in the interview, Bogdanovic also addressed Serbia’s status as the favorites to win the EuroBasket tournament.
“I think it’s a privilege to be the leader of the tournament and to be the focus of the tournament. And I mean, it’s another challenge in life.
“We’ve already been through that. Hopefully, we end up with better results this time.”
With the roster that they have right now, Serbia is absolutely the favorite to win the tournament. With the depth of their squad, they have all the tools to go all the way.
But tournaments aren’t won on paper, so they will have to play some high-level basketball to get the job done. Stay tuned to NBA Analysis for coverage of the EuroBasket tournament.
