Serbia coach reveals Jokic played through illness: Win over Italy proves squad depth

They call me a troublemaker. I'm just listening to the creaking of the wheel. The Serbian wheel creaked during the match against Italy in Group J of the World Cup qualifiers, and the cause wasn't tactical – it was the illness that felled their biggest star. After the game, coach Dusan Alimpijevic revealed the truth: Nikola Jokic had been seriously ill for three days before tip-off, required serum treatment, and was even at risk of missing the match. Yet Serbia's captain still made himself available, scoring 8 points and grabbing 8 rebounds – a stat line completely off from the standard of a three-time NBA MVP. The context was far from simple. Serbia entered the clash with Italy sitting second in Group J with a 6-2 record. Italy was third at 5-3, still very much alive in the race for qualification. In international basketball, meetings like this often decide World Cup berths, as point differential and head-to-head can become the final tiebreakers. Jokic understood this, and he was the one who refused to sit out. Alimpijevic said: 'Jokic was very sick but did not abandon the team. We are proud of our captain.' Those words echoed through the press room, turning a routine qualifying game into a story of loyalty and sacrifice. Looking at the numbers, Jokic's 8 points and 8 rebounds is an anomaly. In the NBA, Jokic averages around 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists per game. In a Serbia jersey, he is the centerpiece of the offense – scoring, passing, screening – everything flows through his hands. But against Italy, when his body was at maybe 70 percent, Jokic became a different player. He was slower, heavier in movement, and his usual delicate passes vanished. Yet 8 rebounds still showed that his rebounding instincts and positioning are things illness cannot defeat. He knows where to stand, when to jump, even if his legs aren't quick. What's more remarkable is that Serbia still won. That says a lot about an important reality: this team is no longer a one-man show. When Jokic couldn't shine, other weapons – like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vasilije Micic – had to step up. Based on my experience following games, a team that can survive an off-night from its primary star is a sign of a mature group. If this match had happened two years ago, Serbia would likely have collapsed under Italy's pressure. But today, they stood firm and even won with their offensive leader unable to serve. This was an early test, and Serbia passed it. However, we must look at the flip side. Is Jokic playing while severely ill truly commendable, or is it a reckless gamble that could cost his long-term health? In football, we've seen players inject painkillers to play and then wreck their careers. Alimpijevic and Serbia's medical staff allowed him to play after serum treatment – that decision might be reasonable, but it sets a precedent that 'playing through illness' is to be celebrated. I once said: 'We lose fans not because of ghost football, but because we turn rituals into products.' If the coaching staff turns Jokic's sacrifice into a media product to stir patriotism, they are putting undue pressure on other players. They might feel that if they don't play sick, they'll be branded cowards. Italy, with a more balanced roster but lacking a world-class superstar, lost a match in which they had a huge advantage: their opponent didn't have a fully healthy Jokic. That exposed their problem: no one who can make a difference in tough moments. For Serbia, this victory is a solid stepping stone toward qualifying for the World Cup. But if Jokic relapses or suffers from burnout, the price could be much higher. This is the time to look at the big picture, not just immediate results. Serbia stands at a major opportunity to assert itself at the World Cup. But their sporting culture must walk the line between courage and foolishness. I once wrote: 'Football culture doesn't die from losing. It commits suicide when it thinks winning is everything.' Basketball is the same. Jokic doesn't need to prove his bravery by playing with a fever. What they need to do is keep him healthy for the biggest day – when the World Cup begins. If Serbia does that, the win over Italy will be just a footnote. If not, they'll pay for betting too much on a night that could have ended far more sadly. Jokic's story is a reminder of the fragility of sport's monuments. Fans see the glory, not the tears hidden in the medical room. Today, Serbia won thanks to the endurance of the weakest man on the team. But tomorrow, they need a healthy, fresh Jokic ready to dominate. If the medical staff doesn't prioritize his health, all the praise about 'warrior spirit' will turn to dust when his career is threatened. They call me a troublemaker, but I'm just listening to the creaking of the wheel – and that wheel still needs maintenance, before it breaks on the road.