Nikola Jokic delivered a masterclass in Belgrade on Thursday night, guiding Serbia to a 90-87 victory over France in an international men’s basketball friendly match. The fixture marked the first appearance for French star Victor Wembanyama in national team colors since the Paris Olympic Games, and his first competitive game action since losing the NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs in June.
Jokic Controls the Pace in Belgrade Showdown
Playing in front of a home crowd, the three-time NBA MVP outshone his French counterpart. According to match reports, Jokic posted 20 points, 9 rebounds, 8 passes, and 3 interceptions, overcoming a 5-of-13 shooting night and 3 turnovers to orchestrate Serbia’s narrow win. His performance featured precise mid-court passes, creative floor distribution, and deft floaters in the paint.
The Wembanyama and Gobert Frontcourt Question
France head coach Freddy Fauthoux deployed Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert together in the starting lineup at tip-off and again to start the second half. Press reports noted that this pairing had previously proved ineffective during the 2024 international campaign under former coach Vincent Collet, who eventually moved Wembanyama closer to the basket and benched Gobert during the Olympic quarterfinals.
Thursday’s tactical test yielded similar struggles. Defensive coordination faltered despite the elite reputations of both big men, while the offensive alignment forced Wembanyama away from his preferred interior scoring spots. Gobert finished the night with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Wembanyama, playing 25 minutes, tallied 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting—including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc—along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 6 turnovers.
Bench Spark and Backcourt Contributions
Despite offensive inconsistency that saw Les Bleus hit just 9 of 33 attempts from long distance and commit 20 turnovers, France stayed within striking distance after trailing by just a single point at halftime (46-45). Sylvain Francisco scored 13 points, and Matthew Strazel added 12 before fouling out, with both guards driving a late-game offensive surge.
Strong minutes from the bench also kept France competitive. Amine Noua contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds, while Gerald Ayayi added 10 points and 5 rebounds alongside his brother Joel Ayayi.
What Comes Next
France and Serbia will meet again on Sunday in Orleans for their second friendly fixture in three days.
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