Nikola Jokic stats: Serbian star records double-double in EuroBasket 2025 opener win vs Estonia (Aug 27)

The Nikola Jokic-led Serbia opened its FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaign against Estonia on Wednesday at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia. Serbia had a dominant 98-64 win.

Jokic finished with a near triple-double. He had 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists on 3-for-4 shooting. In 23 minutes, he also went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and had three turnovers.

Nikola Jovic led Serbia with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists on 6-for-8 shooting.

The three-time NBA MVP is coming off a stellar campaign with the Denver Nuggets in 2024-25. Jokic was runner-up to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the MVP award last season after averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists on 57.6% shooting (41.7% from 3-point range) in 70 games.

In the first quarter on Wednesday, Jokic had two points, one rebound and two assists in nearly eight minutes of action. Serbia raced to a 32-12 lead over Estonia at the end of the opening quarter.

Jokic played five minutes in the second period. At halftime, he had seven points, four rebounds and three assists on 2-for-2 shooting. He also committed one turnover and went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in 13 first-half minutes.

Jokic played nearly the entire third period and recorded four points, six rebounds and four assists. The big man did not play in the final frame as Serbia were up by 42 (86-44) after three quarters.

Nikola Jokic's stats

Player

MIN

PTS

FG

2PT FG

3PT FG

FT

REB

AST

PF

TO

STL

BLK

+/-

Nikola Jokic

23:04

11

3/4 (75%)

3/3 (100%)

0/1 (0%)

5/6 (83%)

10

7

1

3

0

0

39

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Serbian teammates praise Nikola Jokic ahead of EuroBasket campaign

Serbia went 7-0 in exhibition games leading to the tournament, and several pundits have named the team as the favorites to win it all this year. Serbian star Nikola Jokic looks to lead his national team to victory, as he is yet to reach the FIBA EuroBasket podium.

In an article by FIBA on Monday, two of Jokic's Serbian teammates praised him. Bodgan Bogdanovic, who has been playing with Jokic for several years, praised the big man's conditioning.

"Everybody knows about his IQ and feel for the game, but what really makes him special is his basketball shape for his size, his ability to run and his conditioning," Bogdanovic said. "He brings probably the highest confidence that I've ever had playing with anyone else."

Meanwhile, Serbian wing Aleksa Avramovic noted the ways that Jokic makes their team better.

"With him on the court our chances are bigger." Avramovic said. "He's someone who makes life easier for others on the court. He makes my life easier."

Nikola Jokic's Serbia will next face Portugal on Friday. Following that, Serbia will battle Latvia, Czech Republic and Turkey, led by Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun.