Serbia coach snaps back at Nikola Jokic suggestion ahead of international showdown with Slovenia

Nikola Jokic still has to work

Nikola Jokic is arguably the best player in world basketball. Recently the Partizan Belgrade coach talked him up for having the ‘fastest brain’ he has ever seen.

During a press conference, Serbia coach Svetislav Pesic wanted to get something off his chest, hitting back at a comment he had heard.

Pesic said: “They say Jokic doesn’t need to train, he’s the best in the world, he just shows up and doesn’t need anything. But it’s not like that.

“It’s all about preparation, bad preparation, bad results.”

Pesic, 75, has huge experience, beginning his coaching career back in 1982. He has coached Serbia since 2021.

He is not set in his ways and says he must mold his gameplan around the players he has available to him.

Pesic told Telegraf: “The coach must adapt to the players, the coach must always understand that he is there for the players, that they are the most important, that is the first thing that brings the development of the team. The coach must never be above the team.”

Serbia set for the long haul

Serbia’s EuroBasket campaign begins with the group stages on August 27, when they face Estonia.

It is one of five early fixtures, concluding against Alperen Sengun’s Turkey on September 3.

Serbia are expected to reach the knockout phases, with the tournament final set for September 14, and it would not be a surprise to see Nikola Jokic and Serbia feature.