Bronze Medal Triumph: Unveiling the Winner in Olympic Men’s Basketball

PARIS, France — In a thrilling rematch of last year’s FIBA World Cup final, Serbia triumphed over Germany 93-83 to secure the bronze medal in the Olympic men’s basketball tournament on Saturday.

Nikola Jokic was pivotal for Serbia, recording the fifth triple-double in Olympic history with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. This marked Serbia’s first Olympic medal since their silver at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. The team regained its composure after nearly defeating the four-time reigning gold medalists, the U.S., in the semifinals.

Vasilije Micic also contributed 19 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 16. Jokic’s performance placed him in elite company, joining Sasha Belov, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic as the only players to achieve an Olympic triple-double.

Serbia maintained control throughout the game, establishing a 19-point lead in the third quarter. Despite a late comeback attempt by Germany, led by Franz Wagner with 19 points and Moritz Wagner with 16, Serbia managed to fend off the challenge. Germany had previously enjoyed a 12-game winning streak across major international competitions, which included their journey to the Olympic semifinals. However, they faced back-to-back defeats, losing to France on Thursday before their third-place match against Serbia.

Late in the fourth quarter, Germany narrowed the gap to 82-74, but Serbia responded with an 11-4 run, ensuring their lead remained secure.

The stage is now set for the gold medal clash between the U.S. and France, with Team USA favored to win, boasting a lineup filled with NBA stars.