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[Saba Sports News] Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has always been media-shy, but he’s taken it to another level at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Jokic has refused to speak to the media throughout the summer games, even after leading Serbia to a 95-90 overtime win over Australia in the men’s basketball quarterfinals.
Serbia trailed by 24 points in the second quarter but rallied thanks to Jokic’s heroics. Despite his crucial performance, Jokic continued to avoid reporters after the game.
Serbian team captain Bogdan Bogdanovic explained that Jokic’s silence isn’t personal. Jokic just feels no obligation to speak to the media at the Olympics like he does in the NBA, where he would be fined for not doing so.
“He’s great, but he only likes to talk to me,” said Bogdanovic. “In the NBA, if he doesn’t talk to the media, he gets fined. But here, there are no fines, so he says, ‘I don’t need to.’ No offense to you guys.”
During overtime, Jokic was pivotal, opening with an assist and making key defensive plays. He hit a go-ahead shot with 1:10 left and a fadeaway jumper to extend the lead with under 30 seconds to play.
Maybe if reporters asked about his passion for horse racing, Jokic would open up more.