Toni Kukoc: 'Nikola Jokic isn't at the level of Vlade Divac and Dino Radja in the center position'

Kukoc still praised Jokic for the way he’s dominating and controlling the game. “Jokić is not an athlete, he doesn’t run as fast as American college players, but he has an incredible ability to get the game into a rhythm that suits him,” Kukoc mentioned. “He scores, assists, catches balls, all in his own ‘mode’. When he gets the game into a rhythm that suits him, then he can do what he wants.” -via EuroHoops.net / March 30, 2024

The legend of European and world basketball also made a witty statement about Zeljko Obradovic and his NBA potential.  “It is no secret that he is perhaps the best coach ever, especially in the last 20 years. He also knew him when he was the point guard in our national team,” the retired player told Sport Klub. -via BasketNews / March 29, 2024

“There is no doubt what kind of coach he is. I have no doubt that he would succeed in the NBA. If you take his basketball knowledge, he would surely succeed. If you take his way of communication, I don’t know if the players in the US would survive that, although it’s up to them,” Kukoc admitted.  “The players today are a little spoiled, it seems to me,” he explained with a smile. “The more money they have, the less they play basketball.” -via BasketNews / March 29, 2024

Sean Cunningham: Luka Doncic as he puts away the Kings tonight in Sacramento with his final free throw, then as the final horn sounds, waves goodbye to former Kings GM Vlade Divac seated courtside and says “he shoulda’ drafted me.” pic.twitter.com/6j26cLprxA -via Twitter @SeanCunningham / March 30, 2024

The Kings infamously selected Marvin Bagley III over Doncic during the 2018 NBA Draft. Kings executive Vlade Divac made the call, passing up on his fellow Balkan native for the Duke product. Doncic reminded Divac of his draft mistake Friday towards the end of the Mavericks’ 107-103 win over the Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. With four second left in the contest, Doncic sank a free throw to put the Mavs up by four. The Kings took a timeout, which gave Doncic the chance to wave goodbye to Divac while walking toward the Mavs’ bench. Doncic then appeared to repeatedly mutter “he should have drafted me” once the Mavs star got to the sideline. -via Larry Brown Sports / March 30, 2024

However, there is still no certainty that Jokic will be able to suit up for Serbia for the Olympics, according to former NBA big man and current Serbia basketball executive Vlade Divac. “Well, first of all, we don’t have a confirmation yet. Obviously, it’s a long season, you know, and we have to give him more time to see how his body is going to react after the season,” Divac told Brian Geltzeiler and Eddie A Johnson while appearing recently on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “But if he does play, that would be huge. You know, he’s he’s a hero over there. He’s obviously one of the best in my mind, the best player in the league right now. So he would be great, great peeling for entire nation if he is part of the team,” Divac added. -via Clutch Points / March 5, 2024

Ryan Blackburn: Nikola Jokic on whether the Nuggets need the 1 seed or not: “I really don’t know. If you want to pick and choose who we’re going to play, I think that’s not a good thing. I never did that. I think you should go there and win every game and beat the best, probably.” “I just want… -via Twitter @NBABlackburn / March 30, 2024

Harrison Wind: Nikola Jokic on his wrist: “Hopefully it’s going to be a little bit better, just so I don’t feel it every time when I shoot. But it’s good. I’m used to it, dealing with the pain. It’s kind of normal for me.” pic.twitter.com/J03QoDX5KB -via Twitter @HarrisonWind / March 30, 2024