Nikola Jokic led Serbia to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games and came very close to toppling Team USA in the semi-final. NBA legend Oscar Robertson criticized USA’s defense against the big man.
Robertson stated on the All The Smoke podcast that Jokic “made a fool out of Team USA” during their close semi-final matchup, which USA won 95-91.
The 85-year-old expressed his disappointment with USA’s defensive efforts, particularly highlighting their inability to contain Jokic. He questioned the defensive strategy employed by the team, specifically mentioning the lack of effort in staying with their assigned man.
During a Nuggets press conference, Jokic’s teammate Aaron Gordon commented on how satisfying it was to see Jokic challenge USA on the court. Although Gordon was not selected to play for Team USA, he enjoyed watching Jokic push the American team to their limits.
Jokic averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists for Serbia in Paris. He is expected to play a crucial role in the Nuggets’ pursuit of a championship this season.
