By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
MEXICO CITY – On the eve of the NBA Mexico City Game 2026, where the Denver Nuggets face the Indiana Pacers at Arena CDMX on Saturday, Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic shared his thoughts about global evolution and differences between North America and Europe.
“I don’t know if that’s true or not,” said the 31-year-old center about whether international players are the undisputed best in the world right now. “I think there’s a lot of talent.”
Specifically about what European players bring to the table, particularly given how himself and France’s Victor Wembanyama dominate the floor, the Joker once more dismissed the idea of superiority.
“I’m going to say the same thing. It’s a talented league. There’s a bunch of players,” he furthered.
However, he did highlight a distinct cultural contrast regarding accountability.
“I said one time, I think the European players have a little bit more pressure of playing,” Jokic added. “Playing in Europe, if you lose one or two games, you’re maybe not going to get salary in the third game for something like that. We just have the pressure.”
Previewing the next challenge in the 2026–27 Regular Season, the former champion and three-time Most Valuable Player of the season anticipates a warm crowd. “I think it’s going to be great,” he noted.
Triple-double alert
The venue presents a unique environment, sitting at an elevation higher than Denver’s Mile High standard. This condition could theoretically give the Nuggets a functional advantage.
“We’ll see,” he answered a question about if he can post a triple-double in Mexico City. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
FIBA basketball
The conversation also turned to the FIBA stage and whether Team USA can dominate in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“I don’t think Team USA won’t have a great team,” stated Jokic, countering other projections. “I think they’re still the best, and we’ll see.”
Top 5 players
To close, Jokic tried to rank the top five international players of all time. He found it tough to narrow down, naming only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, and Hakeem Olajuwon before stopping.
“The top five is really hard,” he stressed, while declining to include himself in the list. “It’s a hard question.”
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