The Serbian men’s basketball team represents Serbia in all international basketball tournaments, From 1992 to 2003, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Serbia played under FR Yugoslavia before being recognized by FIBA as an independent basketball entity.
Serbia won two FIBA World Cups as a part of Yugoslavia in 1998 and 2002 and finished second once in 2014. Serbia has also been a recipient of the gold medal in EuroBasket thrice (1995, 1997, 2001), the silver medal twice (2009, 2017), and the bronze medal once (1999). Serbia is currently ranked 6th in the world by FIBA.
Serbia will kick start its FIBA World Cup campaign against China on August 26th at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila.
Serbian players in the NBA
Serbia has a rich basketball history and has produced a number of players who are currently playing in the NBA. Historically, Serbia has given the NBA some of the most iconic and memorable talents in the NBA such as Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac. Let’s take a look at some of the Serbian players who are in the NBA currently.
Nikola Jokic: Nikola Jokic has been recognized as one of the greatest NBA players of our generation. The two-time MVP from Serbia has been widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA today. With his exceptional passing and herky-jerky playstyle, Jokic is among the most unique players in the NBA. Nicknamed the ‘Joker’, he is regarded as one of the biggest draft steals in the NBA today. Jokic currently plays for the Denver Nuggets.
Bogdan Bogdanovic: Bogdan Bogdanovic is a Serbian basketball player currently playing for the Atlanta Hawks. He is regarded as one of the best shooters in the league and has made an impact on many teams he was played with such as the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz.
Boban Marjanovic: Nicknamed Bobi, Boban Marjanovic is a Serbian basketball player currently playing for the Houston Rockets. Marjanovic is mostly known for being a ‘gentle giant’ in the league with his towering height and size while being one of the more wholesome and funnier players in the league.
With a player like Nikola Jokic leading the Serbs at the helm, the basketball world is expecting Serbia to make considerable noise at the FIBA World Cup. The FIBA World Cup will take place between August 25th and September 10th.
FAQs
A. Nikola Jokic plays for the Serbian basketball team.
A. Serbia is currently ranked 6th by the FIBA World rankings.
A. Yes, there are Serbian players in the NBA like Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Boban Marjanovic.
A. No, LeBron James is not expected to represent Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.
