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NBA Legend Criticizes Team USA for Close Game Against Nikola Jokic and Serbia

NBA legend Charles Barkley spoke on Nikola Jokic's performance for Serbia in the Paris Olympics semifinals game against Team USA

Joey Linn

Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; Serbia center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts against Germany in the men's basketball bronze medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena.
Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; Serbia center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts against Germany in the men's basketball bronze medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. / Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic led Serbia to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Falling to Team USA in the semifinals game, Serbia led for most of the matchup but could not maintain their lead in the fourth quarter.

While much of the focus from that game has been on Serbia's inability to hold their lead, NBA legend Charles Barkley believes the game should not have even been close.

Appearing on the Dan Le Batard show, Barkley criticized Team USA and explained how Jokic was able to keep this game close despite being at a significant talent disadvantage.

"I think they played too slow because you could see what [Jokic] was doing," Barkley said. "He was milking the clock, he would take the ball out of bounds and roll it up the court. They turned a 40 minute game basically into like a 35 to 37 minute game. So they let them play slow. I think they should have played a lot faster."

Jokic made history at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first player ever to lead the tournament in total points, rebounds, and assists.

Before his assessment on the USA-Serbia game, Barkley made another eye-opening statement, saying Team USA would not even have room for Serbia's second best player.

"They got Joker, but the second-best player on their team was Bogdanovic," Barkley said. "Does Bogdanovic make the United States Olympic team? Under no circumstances does he make the Olympic team."

Bogdan Bogdanovic speaks to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
Feb 4, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) speaks to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before the game at Ball Arena. / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

While Bogdanovic is a great player, Barkley is correct here, which makes Jokic's performance at the Olympics even more impressive.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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