Nikola Jokic led Serbia to a bronze medal on the Paris Olympic Video games and got here very near toppling Workforce USA within the semi-final and NBA legend Oscar Robertson wasn’t in any respect pleased with how USA dealt with the massive man.
Robertson says that ‘Jokic made a idiot out of Workforce USA’ throughout their semi-final recreation, which USA gained by a slender 4 factors (91-95).
“What bothers me greater than something is how does a man simply come as much as you and drive round you really easy?” Robertson mentioned on the All The Smoke podcast, seemingly referencing what he noticed as laziness on protection from Workforce USA.
“They don’t slide [their feet] Jokic made a idiot out of USA all as a result of that guard didn’t battle by way of to get to his man. I’d by no means have screens switched onto my man,” the 85-year-old continued.
“Why am I gonna go inside to play by way of the 7-foot-4 (2.24 m.) man and USA stored doing that and Jokic stored scoring unhealthy. What was the coach doing, [Steve] Kerr?” the 12-time All-Star participant questioned.
“You possibly can’t say you need Steph Curry to modify off on Jokic inside. Effectively, Curry wouldn’t swap in any case so it wouldn’t actually matter.”
In a Nuggets press convention on Thursday, Jokic’s teammate Aaron Gordon spoke about how satisfying it was to see the Serbian huge man make USA sweat.
“I used to be requested if I wished to play for [Team] USA after which the decision by no means got here round. …Then simply to see Jokic take them to the wire like that…the dude on my staff is finna simply wash these cats. …However, all that being mentioned ‘Merica.”
In Paris, Jokic averaged 18.8 factors, 10.7 rebounds and eight.7 assists for Serbia.
Little doubt the middle would be the important piece within the Nuggets’ championship chase season.
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