Paris 2024 men's basketball: Serbia feeling proud as Nikola Jokic leads them to Olympic bronze in style
There was true elation and relief as Team Serbia outlasted Germany 93-83 to earn the country’s third Olympic medal on Saturday. Yet the emotions were mixed.
Serbia was still smarting over its 95-91 loss to Team USA, a game they led for more than 33 minutes before slipping in the end. But there was something to coming back from such a disappointment, showing up to Bercy Arena at 9 a.m. to prepare for another chance at a medal and flourishing with the opportunity.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic finished with the tournament’s second triple-double – 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists – and continued his tradition of not speaking with the media afterwards. That left captain Bogdan Bogdanovic to speak for the team and he expressed glee and pride about the bronze medal.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Dirk Nowitzki congratulates Bronze Medalists Aleksa Avramovic #30 and Bogdan Bogdanovic #7 of Team Serbia following the Men's Bronze Medal Game between Team Germany and Team Serbia on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Serbia led most of the way against Germany. On Thursday it used the 3-point shot to build a double-digit lead, on Saturday it punished Germany in the paint with Jokic either scoring or finding open teammates. Serbia used four 3-pointers in the fourth period to seal the win.
“It’s a huge success, we won the bronze medal at the Olympics, of course there is some sadness about that game against the USA but we cannot go backwards,” said Bogdanovic, who scored 16 points. “We can only be proud about what we achieved today. It was a very difficult game to wake up at 7 a.m. and to come here at 11 to play. I’m so proud of the achievement we had.”
For Germany, it was a disappointing end to what was a promising tournament after Group play. The Germans were considered the second-best team behind Team USA heading from Lille to Paris but lost their edge with disappointing performances against France and Serbia.
“Today, of course, we gave everything, but I could have played a better game, brought more energy, being a better floor general, making sure everybody was in the right spaces,” guard Dennis Schroder said. “That game is on me. "We showed that German basketball is one of the best countries in the world. We got the World Cup last year, we wanted to accomplish more this year, but sometimes in life you can't get everything you want.
"The France game, of course, we could have won. We had our chances to win the game. That killed our mood, to be honest. We thought that we were going to be in the finals, and we embraced every single moment, but they played better than us that night.”
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Dennis Schroder #17 of Team Germany dribbles the ball whilst under pressure from Marko Guduric #23 of Team Serbia during the Men's Bronze Medal Game between Team Germany and Team Serbia on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Bogdanovic, meanwhile, had to clarify a story that had circulated about his gestures after making 3-point shots. He would follow the make by pointing to his head with his index finger and pressing three times, called ‘3 shots to the dome’ by the originator, Team USA legend Carmelo Anthony. Anthony sat courtside for Serbia’s loss to Team USA and Saturday’s bronze medal game.
Team USA guard Devin Booker reminded Bogdanovic on social media to respect “the legends.” But Bogdanovic walked to the sideline and hugged Anthony after the Serbia win. He said he considered Anthony a role model.
“If you know me, you know I enjoy the game,” he said. “I like to compete, and I will always compete with fire. I've been doing that for a long time now.
I know somebody is thinking it's provocation or something, but that's (the) media, for me. It's just enjoyment, competitiveness, full on court, and respect for him. To have him over there is a legend. Nothing else but respect and competitiveness.”
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 06: Head coach Svetislav Pesic of Team Serbia reacts during the Men's Quarterfinal match between Team Australia and Team Serbia on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on August 06, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Serbia coach Svetislav Pesic, who turns 75 later this month, wouldn’t address whether this was his final game as the national coach.
“Now is the time to celebrate this success. I don’t have any plan, to be honest,” he said. “It is the first time in my life I don’t know what I want to do in the next (few) days, apart from being with my family and friends to celebrate a bit. I don’t know, I really don’t know.
“I am always available for Serbian basketball, as a coach and everything else. Basketball is the most important sport in our country, and we must use this success to improve our national league and the sport generally. We will analyze this tournament and then prepare for LA (Los Angeles) 2028.
I am happy to be part of this success, no more or less than anyone else. This is my feeling at the moment.”
Gary Washburn is an Olympic Channel correspondent and National NBA Writer for the Boston Globe.