Alimpijevic on Jokic: 'He was very sick for the last three days'

8 points and 8 rebounds – that's all Nikola Jokic left on the stat sheet in the match against Italy. A number so modest it raises questions for a player coming off an NBA season averaging 26.4 points per game. But if you only look at the box score, you'll miss the entire story. This was not a poor performance night. This was a night where Serbia's captain fought his own body before facing Italy. Coach Dusan Alimpijevic, visibly emotional after the match, revealed: "He was very sick for the last three days. He was on an IV drip. But he never wanted to give up and leave this team." Those words paint a completely different picture of the match Serbia won 76-64 on the road. This victory moves Serbia to second place in Group J with a 6-2 record, very close to securing a World Cup berth. Italy, at 5-3, finds themselves in a difficult position in the race for qualification. But statistics only reflect part of the picture. Look at Jokic's 8 rebounds. On a night when his body wouldn't allow explosive play, still being in the right position to grab boards proves his physical presence and court reading ability remained intact. Rebounds are a measure of effort and commitment – two things a sick player cannot fake. What's more notable is how Serbia operated without a fully fit Jokic. Alimpijevic's team proved they are not a one-man team. When the biggest star is limited by fitness, the collective found ways to function, share responsibility, and find a path to victory. This is a formidable signal for opponents at the upcoming World Cup. The story of Jokic in this match also opens an interesting tactical perspective. When a sick player still takes the court, opponents often focus their attention on him. Italy, with a defensive plan built around containing Jokic, may have inadvertently invested too many resources guarding someone who wasn't the primary threat that night. Unintentionally, Jokic's illness became a perfect decoy. But don't rush to conclude this was a calculated tactic. This was a situation born from a captain's commitment to his team. And perhaps that is the most powerful message Alimpijevic wanted to send to his players: sacrifice and commitment are the core values of the Serbian national team. Putting a player who needed an IV drip on the court is a decision carrying significant risk. The danger of injury from dehydration and compromised coordination is real. But Jokic got through it without serious issues. However, this is not a model to be repeated. The question is whether three days of illness will leave any lingering effects on Jokic as he enters the new NBA season with the Denver Nuggets. This is a point to monitor in the first 2-4 weeks of the season. If his efficiency shows signs of decline, it could be a remnant of this illness. Serbia is very close to the World Cup. And with a healthy Jokic and a collective that has proven its depth, they can think about bigger things at the world tournament. But for now, remember the night in Italy, where a seriously ill captain taught the whole team a lesson about sacrifice – and where the data of 8 points, 8 rebounds said more than numbers can express. In my years of following the Serbian national team, I have never seen a performance that said more about this team's spirit than that night. Basketball is never empty; only our way of seeing is empty. And for those who only look at the stat sheet, they missed one of the most meaningful moments of this World Cup qualifying window.