Thanks to Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets are title contenders. If you took him off the team, they would likely miss the playoffs outright and flounder in NBA irrelevancy. The Serbian National Team is in a similar boat, boasting that the best player in the world was the only reason why they won bronze in the 2024 Olympics.
During Jokic's international career, he has not played against France, although a matchup between him and Victor Wembanyama with FIBA rules would be must-watch TV. One of Wembanyama's French teammates, who won a silver medal in Paris, made a definitive statement about the three-time MVP.
Next to Wembanyama, Guerschon Yabusele was the best player on the French team in Paris, and played so well that he earned a low-value contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
He proved that he belongs in the NBA, averaging a solid 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while playing solid defense.
He recently offered up who he thinks the best player he's ever suited up against is.
I played against a lot of tough players.. Maybe Jokic I will say but at this point you face incredible players every night https://t.co/eAKhsyXMFm
— Guerschon Yabusele (@yabusele28) May 6, 2025
Again, on the internatytoma stage, Yabusele and Jokic have never faced off, although in his two NBA matchups against the Joker, he was sput in a blender.
Generally a solid, if not great, defender, Yabusele allowed Jokic to make ten of his 16 shots as the closest defender this season, which just goes to point out his offensive domination.
Yabulsele will be a free agent this summer, and the vast majority of teams will be clamoring to add him as a value signing, although he will certainly command more money this year than he did last summer.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!