Lost in the final of EuroBasket 2009 and 2017, finished second in the 2016 Olympics, continued to be runner-up in the FIBA World Cup 2014 and 2023, then finished fourth in the 2010 World Cup and EuroBasket 2015.

This is a record of all losses in the 7 times the Serbian basketball team entered the final match (final or third place match) in major tournaments. But in the 8th time, they enjoyed the joy of victory.

Nikola Jokic and his teammates defeated the German team with a score of 93-83 on the afternoon of August 10, Vietnam time, thereby winning the first Olympic bronze medal in the history of this country.

Jokic was Serbia’s hero with a rare triple-double at the Olympics. He only played for 2 minutes, scored 19 points with 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and added 1 steal and 1 block.

This is only the fifth triple-double in Olympic basketball history and the second time this stat has appeared in Paris. Previously, LeBron James had a triple-double in the semifinals midweek.

On the other side of the front line, the German team played with great effort in the confrontation with Serbia, a rematch of the 2023 FIBA World Cup final. The largest gap that Serbia created was up to 19 points, but it was reduced to 10 points in the fourth quarter after the stormy 12-3 run of the German team.

However, the presence of Nikola Jokic gave Germany a problem they could not solve, witnessing the defense being continuously torn apart by the reigning NBA MVP with top-notch assists.

With the brilliance of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilije Micic, Serbia withstood the comeback efforts of the “tanks”, winning the match with a 10-point margin.

Franz Wagner led Germany with 18 points and nine rebounds. Dennis Schroder contributed 13 points and six assists. Moritz Wagner scored 16 points and Johannes Thiemann added 11 points.

The 2024 Olympic men’s basketball event will conclude with the gold medal match between host France and defending champion the United States. The men’s final will take place at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 11.