Nikola Jokic undecided on Paris Olympics: 'Some people put words in my mouth' / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic clarifies rumors surrounding Olympic commitment: "It's far. Some people put words in my mouth that I said something that I didn't."

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Nikola Jokic, who took a break from the Serbian national team this past summer following an NBA championship run with the Denver Nuggets, has yet to make a decision on his participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nikola Jokic

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Jokic refuted Bozidar Maljkovic's claim that he is guaranteed to help Serbia in the Olympics next summer.

"It's far. Some people put words in my mouth that I said something that I didn't. The head coach is the first to know [my commitment]. I always talk to the family and the team after the season," Jokic told Aleksandar Zigic of RTS.

In mid-October, Maljkovic, the President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia and a legendary basketball coach, had announced Jokic's commitment.

"[In FIBA World Cup 2023] We didn't have NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic. Neither Vasilije Micic, the MVP of the EuroLeague. Nor Nikola Kalinic. ... By the way, I already announced that in Paris, they will be all, Jokic included," he said in an interview with Juan Jimenez of AS.com.

Having previously represented Serbia at three major FIBA competitions -- the 2016 Rio Olympics, FIBA World Cup 2019, and FIBA EuroBasket 2022 -- Jokic clinched a silver medal in 2016.

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