Nikola Jokic went into the World Cup qualifying game against Italy in very poor health. The Serbian superstar had been receiving IV treatment for several days but did not want to leave his team alone for the crucial away game.
As Serbia’s national team coach Dusan Alimpijevic explained after the 76-64 victory in Pesaro, Nikola Jokic was “very sick” in the three days leading up to the game. The center received IVs every day during that time, including on game day. The coach did not reveal exactly what illness Jokic was suffering from.
“He didn’t want to give up and leave his team in the lurch. He never complained or said anything to us,” Alimpijevic explained. The coach praised his captain’s attitude: “We’re very proud to have a captain like him.”
Jokic Falls Well Short of His Potential
The fact that Jokic wasn’t fully fit was also reflected in his stats. In about 24 minutes, the three-time NBA MVP scored just eight points and grabbed eight rebounds. He made three of his seven shots from the field, and the normally outstanding passer didn’t record a single assist. Three days earlier, Jokic had also scored just six points in the 102–73 win over Iceland, but had a much greater impact on the game with 13 rebounds and six assists.
In Pesaro, Italy focused its defense heavily on the Denver Nuggets superstar. Jokic refrained from forcing shots and let his teammates take on more responsibility.
“I’ve seen defenses like this many times before. But that’s exactly why I love playing for the national team and testing myself,” Jokic said. “The most important thing is to win the game, no matter how. If I can create an advantage without having the ball and help my teammates score as a result, I’m more than happy to do that.”
Serbia Takes a Big Step Toward the World Cup
Nico Mannion scored 23 points for Italy, while Simone Fontecchio added 15. After starting with five wins in six games, Italy lost both games in the fourth qualifying window and dropped to third place in Group J with a 5-3 record.
Following victories over Iceland and Italy, Serbia stands at 6-2 and is in second place behind Turkey, which has already qualified. The top three teams in the group will earn spots in the 2027 World Championship in Qatar.