Current:Home > FinanceHow (and why) Nikola Jokic barely missed triple-double history at 2024 Paris Olympics -Achieve Wealth Network
How (and why) Nikola Jokic barely missed triple-double history at 2024 Paris Olympics
View
Date:2025-04-22 02:01:56
Nikola Jokic came oh-so-close to making Olympic history Wednesday in France, and the Serbian basketball star can thank a teammate, and perhaps his coach, for falling just short.
Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, finished one assist shy of the fourth triple-double in Olympic men’s basketball history in Serbia’s 107-66 win over Puerto Rico in Group C play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Denver Nuggets star had 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists over 23 minutes in the blowout, which came on the heels of Serbia’s loss to the United States to open up the 2024 Paris Olympics. But Jokic, who has 148 career triple doubles in the NBA, probably deserved a better fate than barely missing out on his first Olympic triple-double in his team’s bounce-back performance.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS:Follow along with all of the Olympics coverage from USA TODAY SPORTS here
With less than two minutes left in the third quarter, Serbian teammate and Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic missed a relatively easy fastbreak layup that would have also been Jokic’s 10th assist. It loomed especially large when Jokic was subbed out by Serbian coach Svetislav Pesic with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter and never returned to the game.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
Jokic had 8 rebounds in just the first quarter and entered halftime with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists The 29-year-old then became the first player in Olympics history to combine for 10 or more points, 15 rebounds and five or more assists, according to FIBA.
"We heard that he's on nine assists, somebody shouted it from the stands. But trust me, he doesn't really care about this stuff," Serbian teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic told reporters after the game.
Jokic, for his part, seemingly confirmed that mindset. "Oh, it is what it is," he said when he was told how close he came, per Donatas Urbonas.
The first official Olympic triple-double in men’s basketball occurred at the 1976 Montreal Games when Alexander Belov had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Canada. It should be noted, however, that rebounds and assists weren’t consistently tracked by the IOC prior to 1976.
There wasn’t another triple-double until LeBron James accomplished the feat in Team USA’s semifinals win over Australia in the 2012 London Olympics. James had 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in that game.
WHAT TO KNOW:Are Nikola Jokic and Nikola Jovic related? How the Serbia basketball players are connected
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic had the most recent men’s basketball triple-double during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when he finished with 16 points, 18 assists, and 10 rebounds in a semifinal loss to France playing for Slovenia.
Jokic could have joined them Wednesday, and perhaps he still can during these Olympics. Serbia will play South Sudan Saturday to wrap up Group C pool play and a spot in the round of 16 will likely hang in the balance.
Serbia won a silver medal in men’s basketball at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with Jokic on the roster. It last won a gold medal in 1980.
veryGood! (579)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- A radical plan to fix Argentina's inflation
- 'The Holdovers' with Paul Giamatti shows the 'dark side' of Christmas
- What Biden's executive order on AI does and means
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Dua Lipa Shows Off Her Red-Hot Hair With an Equally Fiery Ensemble
- You Don’t Wanna Miss This One Tree Hill Reunion
- Federal judge declines to push back Trump’s classified documents trial but postpones other deadlines
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Bachelor Nation's Rachel Lindsay Details Family Plans and Journey With Husband Bryan Abasolo
Ranking
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- The Eras Tour returns: See the new surprise songs Taylor Swift played in Argentina
- Hunter Biden sues former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne for defamation
- Israel-Hamas war leaves thousands of Palestinians in Gaza facing death by starvation, aid group warns
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Taylor Swift returns to Eras Tour in 'flamingo pink' for sold-out Buenos Aires shows
- NFL midseason grades: Giants, Panthers both get an F
- 'She's that good': Caitlin Clark drops 44 as No. 3 Iowa takes down No. 5 Virginia Tech
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
RHOBH's Crystal Kung Minkoff Says These Real Housewives Were Rude at BravoCon
Chicago White Sox announcer Jason Benetti moving to Detroit for TV play-by-play
Hawaii wildlife refuge pond mysteriously turns bubble-gum pink. Scientists have identified a likely culprit.
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
What Biden's executive order on AI does and means
131 World War II vets die each day, on average; here is how their stories are being preserved.
New Mexico energy regulator who led crackdown on methane pollution is leaving her post