The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is underway as a lead-up to the NBA season.
The top basketball countries in the world have been competing for a gold medal this summer, and the field has been trimmed to just six teams following the start of the Knockout Stage on Tuesday.
The United States defeated Italy and Serbia defeated Lithuania to advance to the semifinals, awaiting their opponents in matchups between Germany and Latvia, and Canada and Slovenia, respectively.
There were questions surrounding Nikola Jokic's availability for Serbia, considering the Finals MVP's season went the distance as he led the Nuggets to an NBA title. Where has Jokic been during Serbia's push for a gold medal? The Sporting News has the latest updates below.
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Why Nikola Jokic isn't playing for Serbia at FIBA Basketball World Cup
Jokic will not participate in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic and newly appointed team captain Bogdan Bogdanovic reportedly had a "round of talks" to try and convince the two-time MVP, but Jokic elected to rest for the remainder of the summer.
"He's physically and mentally exhausted, not feeling ready to take responsibility at the moment," Pesic said.
That should have come as no surprise considering Jokic's NBA season ended in mid-June. He appeared in a total of 89 games (regular season and playoffs) for Denver, averaging 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game in the postseason en route to winning an NBA title and Finals MVP.
The superstar was itching to get home to Serbia after the Nuggets clinched the championship in Game 5 of the Finals, and he elected to remain in his home country until NBA training camp starts back up in September.
Jokic is not the only Serbian star who has been absent from the FIBA World Cup, either. Eurohoops.net added that two-time EuroLeague champion Vasilije Micic was "highly doubtful to be on the team" after signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason.
Serbia has to relied on NBA players like Bogdanovic and Nikola Jovic to fill the void in the meantime, still reaching the semifinals round.
You can find Serbia's FIBA World Cup schedule and results below.
Serbia schedule at 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Serbia won Group B with a perfect 3-0 record over South Sudan, China and Puerto Rico. It advanced to Group I, where it finished second behind Italy with a 4-1 record to move on to the Knockout Stage.
In the first round of the Knockout Stage, Serbia got past a red-hot Lithuania squad behind 21 points from Bogdanovic.
It is set to take on the winner of Canada vs. Slovenia in the semifinals with a trip to the gold medal match on the line.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET)/Result |
| Saturday, Aug. 26 | vs. China | W, 105-63 |
| Monday, Aug. 28 | vs. Puerto Rico | W, 94-77 |
| Wednesday, Aug. 30 | vs. South Sudan | W, 115-83 |
| Friday, Sept. 1 | vs. Italy | L, 98-96 |
| Sunday, Sept. 3 | vs. Dominican Republic | W, 112-79 |
| Tuesday, Sept. 5 | vs. Lithuania | W, 87-68 |
| Friday, Sept. 8 | TBD | 4:45 a.m. |
How to watch 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: TV channels and live streams
- Dates: Aug. 25-Sept. 10
- TV channels: ESPN2
- Live stream: Courtside 1891
Viewers can stream the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Courtside 1891.
Courtside 1891 offers two subscriptions. Courtside 1891 Plus is free and gives you access to "extended highlights and a curated feed for your favorite teams and competition." Courtside 1891 Max is a paid subscription that allows you to watch "live game streams and full game replays."
If you just want to watch the FIBA Basketball World Cup, you can buy a pass for the entire tournament for $9.99. An annual pass, which includes the FIBA Basketball World Cup and other international competitions, costs $44.99. Use code TSN10WC to receive a 10 percent discount.
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