MVP Nikola Jokic makes history in Serbia’s convincing win over Puerto Rico

The win was crucial for Serbia, who bounced back from a frustrating loss to Team USA.

MVP Nikola Jokic makes history in Serbia’s convincing win over Puerto Rico

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic led Serbia to a crucial win over Puerto Rico in the Paris Olympics, making history in the process. He became the first player in Olympics history to record at least 10 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a single game, finishing with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists.

Jokic’s impressive performance is no surprise, given his consistent dominance in the NBA. He averaged 9.0 assists per game last season, ranking third in the league, and has career averages of 20.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

Jokic’s achievement is even more remarkable considering he is a center, a position not typically associated with elite playmaking. He joins Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird as the only player in NBA history with career averages of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game.

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The win was crucial for Serbia, who bounced back from a frustrating loss to Team USA in their opener. Jokic’s performance was the key factor in the victory, and he will look to continue his dominance as Serbia seeks to advance in the Olympics.

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Nikola Jokic falls just short of Olympics triple-double history 

Nikola Jokic was on the verge of making Olympics history with a triple-double, but it slipped through his fingers when teammate Nikola Jovic missed a layup with 1:55 left in the third quarter. Jokic had already achieved double figures in points and rebounds and needed just one more assist to become the fourth player to achieve a triple-double in the Olympics since 1976.

Despite falling short of the historic feat, Jokic still had an impressive game. His teammates downplayed the missed opportunity, with Bogdan Bogdanovic saying Jokic doesn’t care about individual accolades and Nikola Milutinov praising Jokic’s consistent dominance on the court.

We heard that he's on 9 assists, somebody shouted it from the stands. But trust me, he doesn't really care about this stuff.
Bogdan Bogdanovic said after the game about Nikola Jokic

Jokic’s performance was still impressive, and he joins an exclusive club of players who have come close to achieving a triple-double in the Olympics. The list includes Sasha Belov, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic, who have all achieved the feat in past Olympics. 

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