Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, both Europeans, came to the NBA to play basketball that is far from that of the Americans. Both the Slovenian and the Serbian have found a place in the best basketball league, and Svetislav Pesić he knows.
The coach of the Serbian national team, formerly of Barcelona, spoke about the two talents who have left Europe in an interview with Basketnews. “I am a fan of European basketball… But NBA basketball is always on my mind. I think the NBA did not change Jokic and Doncic. Of course, you change every day. You are practicing every day there, and you have to adapt to different rules, to a different basketball. But I think that they changed the NBA with their creativity, their vision of basketball. They play a different kind of basketball than most Americans or NBA players. The characteristics of the great players do not change. They are the same as before. As the best players, they bring some new things every season, like new shots, dribbling, technical or tactical things“said the coach.
He was also full of praise and made clear the esteem he has for Jokic: “Every year that passes he is a better player. And it’s not just based on his stats, but also on his game. Every year he brings something new and surprises not only his rivals but himself. This is a skill of a great playerPesic concluded.
The Serbian coach also had words of praise for Sarunas Jasikevicius, his substitute on the Barça bench, and He assured that the Barça club is positioned to mark an era: “Barça has everything to continue winning titles. Now they are ready to win the ACB and also the Euroleague. Mentally, physically, tactically… Barça currently has a great advantage over Real Madrid“.
