Nikola Jokić has begged off playing for the Serbian national men’s basketball team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup to be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia next month.
According to a report from Mozzart Sport on Sunday, the two-time NBA MVP has already informed the Serbian squad of his decision to sit out the upcoming tournament after leading the Denver Nuggets to the NBA championship last June.
Jokić was the second Serbian player to beg off from the competition aside from Vasilije Micic, who recently landed a contract to return to the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The absence of the 6-foot-11 Jokić in the FIBA World Cup is a dampener for Filipino basketball fans who were hoping to see the Nuggets center play in the country.
Serbia is bracketed with China, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico in Group B and will play their matches at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
