Serbia Wins Bronze Medal in Men’s Basketball at Paris Olympics
In a thrilling match, Serbia has claimed the bronze medal in men’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating Germany 93-83. The win marks Serbia’s first medal in the sport since winning silver in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.
Nikola Jokic, the star player, produced the fifth triple-double in Olympic history, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jokic joined an elite group of players, including Sasha Belov of the former Soviet Union, U.S. star LeBron James (twice), and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, as the only players with Olympic triple-doubles.
The Serbian team bounced back from a gut-wrenching loss to the U.S. team in the semifinals, nearly upsetting the four-time defending gold medalist. Coach Svetislav Pesic, 74, played a crucial role in helping the team turn the page and regain their confidence.
"We had more confidence. We know what Nikola is bringing to the table for us," said Bogdan Bogdanovic, who finished with 16 points. "We continued to play team basketball. We continued to play our way. And we are unafraid. Our mindset, our mentality, we had a great tournament and we wanted to close it out with a win."
The game was a rematch of last year’s FIBA World Cup final, but with a different outcome. Serbia led throughout, building a 19-point lead in the third quarter. Germany made a late push, but Serbia responded with an 11-4 run to secure the win.
Franz Wagner led Germany with 19 points, and Mortiz Wagner added 16. Germany captain Dennis Schroder acknowledged that basketball can be unpredictable, saying, "We’re still one of the best teams in the world. That’s what I believe. But basketball sometimes doesn’t go your way, and sports in general doesn’t go your way."
Germany coach Gordon Herbert, who will leave the national team after the Olympics, was proud of his team’s run, saying, "Not the end that we wanted, but these guys have heart and soul for three years."
The World Cup victory was part of a 12-game win streak in major international competition for the Germans, who won their first four games in Paris to reach the semifinals. However, they lost their last two, including a semifinal loss to host France.
The Serbian team’s bronze medal win is a testament to their resilience and determination. As Bogdanovic said, "This bronze shines like gold for us."
