Don't forget about Serbia. Nikola Jokic is back and leads the Serbians to an impressive pre-Paris 2024 win against Victor Wembanyama and France.
Serbia has largely stayed under the radar in the lead-up for the men’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Well, not anymore.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic took the time to remind everyone just how good he is, powering Serbia to a 79-67 win over Les Bleus in the France Preparation Games ahead of the Olympics.
Despite fouling out, Jokic led Serbia with 20 points in 30 minutes of play. The Denver Nuggets star also added 12 rebounds in the victory.
Bogdan Bogdanovic finished 15 points for the Serbians, who won their first preparation game before Paris 2024.
Serbia is returning to the Olympics after missing out in Tokyo 2020. The team won silver in Rio 2016, as well as last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Victor Wembanyama paced France with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but Les Bleus took their second straight loss in tune-ups.
Without the San Antonio Spurs star, France lost to Germany in the second of their pre-Olympics games, 65-70.
France will continue the Preparation Games against Canada on July 19, while Serbia will next see action in Abu Dhabi for the USA Basketball Showcase on July 17.
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Story Summary:
- Serbia, gearing up for Paris 2024, impressed with a 79-67 victory over France in a pre-Olympics basketball game.
- NBA star Nikola Jokic shined with 20 points and 12 rebounds despite fouling out, leading Serbia's strong performance.
- The Serbian team, returning after missing Tokyo 2020, showcased their prowess ahead of the Olympics, while France faced their second consecutive loss in tune-ups.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]