League guidelines require Nikola Jokic to talk to the media after NBA video games, however within the Olympics he’s making all his statements on the courtroom, writes Kyle Hightower of The Denver Submit. Even after main Serbia to the most important comeback in Olympic historical past on Tuesday, Jokic didn’t have something to say to reporters.
“He’s nice. However he doesn’t like to speak to media — you already know that,” teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic mentioned. “Within the NBA, if he doesn’t speak to media, he’ll get fined. However right here, there aren’t any fines. Right here, it’s voluntary. He says, ‘I don’t must.’ No offense to you guys.”
Meaning the general public received’t know what Jokic is considering as he prepares for Thursday’s semifinal rematch with Workforce USA. Throughout their assembly in pool play final week, the groups had been even through the 30-plus minutes that Jokic was within the recreation, however the People outscored Serbia 29-3 whereas he was resting.
“He stays centered for all minutes on the courtroom,” Vasilije Micic mentioned. “If he can do this, all of us can do this.”
There’s extra from Paris:
- French coach Vincent Collet was touting Mathias Lessort‘s NBA prospects after he had 13 factors and 5 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Canada, per Donatas Urbonas of Basket Information. Lessort was chosen by Philadelphia with the fiftieth choose within the 2017 draft, however he has by no means performed within the NBA. The Panathinaikos heart has turn out to be a star in Europe and was named to the All EuroLeague crew final season. “Mathias was most likely the perfect participant within the EuroLeague this 12 months. They received the championship with Panathinaikos, and he was not removed from profitable the MVP. So for me, it’s not a shock,” Collet mentioned. “What’s a shock? I don’t perceive why he isn’t taking part in within the NBA. I don’t know why no crew within the NBA takes this man.”
- Canadian gamers had been dissatisfied by their gradual begin within the quarterfinals loss, states Josh Lewenberg of TSN. Canada was seen as a gold medal contender after beating three powerful opponents in pool play, however France raced to an early 19-point lead. “They had been higher than us, performed more durable than us, and we noticed it from the leap,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “We clearly tried to make our run within the second half. It wasn’t sufficient, however that’s what occurs if you let groups get off to a very good begin. They got here out the aggressors, they punched us within the mouth.”
- With Australia additionally struggling an early exit, Olgun Uluc of ESPN tries to forecast the Boomers’ roster for the 2028 Video games in Los Angeles. The core of Uluc’s squad is fabricated from gamers from this 12 months’s crew, with Pacers second-round choose Johnny Furphy as a possible addition.
