In a thrilling conclusion to the men’s basketball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Serbia clinched the bronze medal with a decisive 93-83 victory over Germany. The match, held at the Accor Arena (Bercy) in Paris, saw NBA superstar Nikola Jokic deliver a masterclass performance for Serbia.Jokic, widely regarded as one of the most complete players in the world, recorded an impressive triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. This feat marks him as only the fifth player in Olympic history to achieve a triple-double. Jokic’s dominance was complemented by strong performances from teammates Vasilije Micic, who also scored 19 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, who added 16 points.For Germany, the loss marks a disappointing end to what had been a promising tournament. Franz Wagner led the German effort with 18 points and 9 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Serbia’s well-rounded attack. The defeat follows Germany’s semifinal loss to host nation France, ending their dreams of securing their first-ever Olympic basketball medal.Serbia’s victory serves as a measure of revenge for their loss to Germany in the 2023 World Cup final. It also marks Serbia’s return to the Olympic podium, following their silver medal performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics.The bronze medal game concludes what has been a successful tournament for Serbian basketball. As Serbian coach Svetislav Pesic, who led Germany to the European Championship title in 1993, celebrates this achievement just days before his 75th birthday, the future looks bright for Serbian basketball.Meanwhile, for the German team, the fourth-place finish, while disappointing, still represents their best-ever Olympic performance in basketball. As the team looks to the future, they will be seeking a new head coach to replace Gordon Herbert, who is stepping down after three years at the helm.The men’s basketball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics concludes with the gold medal match between France and the United States, scheduled for later today.
Key points
- Serbia won the bronze medal in men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating Germany 93-83.
- Nikola Jokic led Serbia with a historic triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
- Germany’s fourth-place finish is their best-ever Olympic performance in basketball, despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal.
- The result marks Serbia’s return to the Olympic podium since their silver in Rio 2016.
