Alimpijevic reveals Jokic was very sick for 3 days yet still played: Serbia's 76-64 win over Italy and the lesson of squad depth

I have followed international basketball for 36 years, through countless World Cups and Olympic Games, but few moments have made me pause and reflect on the line between greatness and recklessness like the night Serbia traveled to Italy. As the clock on the Milan arena counted down the final seconds, with the scoreboard reading 76-64 in favor of the visitors, I could not help but notice a specific image: Nikola Jokic, the 28-year-old center, sitting on the bench with a distant look in his eyes, his shoulders slumped as if he had just endured a battle far longer than the 40 minutes of official play. Three days before the game, I was at the team hotel where the Serbian national team was staying. The atmosphere was unusually quiet. An assistant coach whispered to me that their captain could not eat normally, had a high fever, and the doctors had to administer IV drips continuously to maintain his condition. I thought Jokic would be rested. But when game time came, he still appeared in the starting lineup, walking slowly but with a determined look. That was the moment when a great player showed he was not just playing for himself, but for a silent promise to the collective. The match took place in the context of Group J of the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. Serbia entered the game with a 6-2 record, sitting second in the group, while Italy was third with 5-3. Winning on the road against a direct rival not only strengthened Serbia's position but also created a crucial head-to-head advantage in the race for a World Cup berth. Jokic, despite scoring only 8 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, was still the focal point of the game. But what impressed me was not the statistical line, but how Serbia's head coach, Dusan Alimpijevic, handled the situation. Coach Alimpijevic did not hesitate to share with the media after the match: "He was very sick for the last three days. We had to put him on an IV, and he refused to give up, refused to leave this team. We are so proud to have a captain like him – a guy who always fights for the badge. Everyone played at their maximum for him." Those words echoed in the press room as an affirmation of warrior spirit, but to me, they also carried a deeper tactical lesson: a great team never depends on one individual. When Jokic was ill, Coach Alimpijevic and the Serbian staff did not try to force the center to operate at his usual high intensity. Instead, they deliberately reduced the number of touches going to Jokic in the post, shifting the offensive focus to perimeter initiation. The Serbian guards moved the ball faster, moved more fluidly, and Italy – who had built their entire defensive scheme around locking down Jokic – was caught off guard when the opposition no longer relied on him. This tactic not only saved energy for their star but also created a subtle "decoy" effect: Italy invested defensive attention on Jokic, but he was just one part of Serbia's diverse offensive picture. The pragmatism of this tactic was evident in the flow of the game. Serbia did not need a Jokic soaring with 25 points like in the NBA; they needed a Jokic who could sacrifice – moving slowly but intelligently, creating space for teammates, and most importantly, not disrupting the team's offensive rhythm. The 76-64 result on the road was the clearest proof: the remaining 68 points came from a well-distributed team effort, not from a solo spectacle by one star. Deeper still, this game revealed an interesting paradox of modern basketball: we often obsess over superstar statistics, but the true strength of a team lies in its ability to function when the star cannot perform at their best. I have witnessed too many national teams collapse when their biggest star faced physical or mental issues. Serbia that night proved they are not one of them. Italy, with a veteran-heavy but rebuilding roster, showed significant tactical vulnerabilities. They were so focused on containing Jokic in the primary area that they neglected to control pick-and-roll situations on the perimeter. When Serbia exploited this with direct drives and corner three-pointers, Italy's defense became disorganized, exposing a gaping space between the paint and the arc. This shows Italy is not yet ready for the highest level of World Cup competition. But this story also raises an ethical and medical issue that cannot be ignored. Should a player who is seriously ill, requiring IV treatment, play in an intense international match? The risks of injury due to dehydration, compromised coordination, and weakened immune response are real. However, in the context of World Cup qualifiers, where every game determines a team's fate, a captain's refusal to quit can become an invaluable source of inspiration for the entire squad. The question remains: what is the price of that sacrifice? For the Denver Nuggets, Jokic's parent club in the NBA, this is a signal that needs close monitoring. On the positive side, Jokic still grabbing 8 rebounds shows he maintained his positioning and physical presence even while his body was not at its best. But on the negative side, the risk of a lingering illness or an impact on his early-season NBA training regimen is entirely possible. I will pay special attention to the Nuggets' first 10 games of the upcoming season, to see if Jokic's performance shows any lingering effects from this match. Returning to the national team context: Serbia stands on the verge of securing a World Cup berth with a 6-2 record. The win over Italy not only secured two crucial points but also gave them an edge in tiebreaker scenarios if the two teams finish level on points. This could determine final standings and the draw at the final tournament. The belief this team builds through games like this will be an invaluable asset when they enter the official competition. I remember back in 2026 at the World Cup at Luzhniki Stadium, when a 22-year-old boy named Aleksandr Golovin ran to embrace his coach like a child finding his father. Golovin's gaze did not belong to the match; it belonged to the moment a boy suddenly became a man. Tonight in Milan, I saw something similar in the eyes of the Serbian players as they looked at their captain. They have grown more than ever. The most frightening innovation does not begin with an explosion; it begins with a deliberate silence. When Jokic stepped slowly onto the court in his game uniform, his body fighting illness, I realized that the silence of a captain – one who does not need to score 30 points to inspire – can sometimes be the most powerful symbol of a collective. Serbia won not only through tactics, but through a common language that transcends any tactical diagram: absolute trust in one another. At 52, I understand that the pitch is never straight; it bends with the patience of those who stay. Basketball, like life, does not always honor the brightest stars. Sometimes it honors collectives that know how to overcome their own limits, how to sacrifice for a common goal. Serbia that night, with a sick Jokic, taught me a lesson about resilience that I will carry throughout my career: a truly great team is not the one with the most stars, but the one that knows how to win even when its star cannot shine. As I left the arena in Milan, the lights dimming, I remembered an empty stadium in Shanghai during the pandemic, where I learned to listen to the breath of football. Tonight, I also heard the breath of basketball – the sound of people who never give up, no matter how tired their bodies are. Serbia, with Jokic, did not just secure a memorable victory. They sent a message to the world: they are heading to the World Cup not to participate, but to conquer. For me, the most memorable moment was not the final score. It was the image of Jokic, after the game ended, rising from the bench, walking toward the stands where Serbian fans were still singing their victory songs. He did not raise his arms in celebration, did not smile brightly. He simply raised his right hand, touched his heart, and then toward them, bowed his head slightly. It was a silent thank you, a promise never to abandon the colors of his flag. I have chased moments like this for my entire career – when an athlete says nothing but says everything. Tonight, I witnessed one of the most precious. In the flow of world basketball, World Cup qualifying games often receive little attention. But sometimes, a small game brings the biggest lessons. Serbia not only proved they are a powerhouse of European basketball, they also proved that team spirit, sacrifice, and belief can overcome all physical limits. That is the true value of sport – a common language that needs no translation, where victory is measured not only by points, but by hearts beating in unison.