Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić found themselves back across from each other Thursday night, and the matchup carried the same pull it always seems to when those two are involved.
This time, the meeting came in Belgrade, Serbia, with France and Serbia using a friendly as part of their buildup to the second qualification window for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. The result looked familiar, too: Serbia edged France 90-87, just as Jokić had done in their last late-season clash in April.
Wembanyama didn’t try to dress up his own performance. After spending the summer away from game action since the San Antonio Spurs were eliminated in Game 5 of the NBA Finals by the New York Knicks, he said he could feel the rust.
“I feel a bit rusty," the 22-year-old admitted postgame. "We are still trying to get into rhythm and find patterns. We fought until the end, and I’m especially happy because of that."
He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and six turnovers in 24 minutes, going 3-for-8 from the field and ranking as France’s third-leading scorer. Jokić answered with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Serbia.
The bigger story, though, was the respect between the two stars. Jokić was quick to praise Wembanyama when asked about him.
“He is a special opponent," Jokić said in an interview with EuroHoops. "He is unique as a player and as a person.
I don’t see him as a rival, and I don’t take this personally. He has the opportunity to be the most unique basketball player we’ve ever seen.
To be the best ever.”
Since Wembanyama entered the NBA in 2023, Jokić has seen him seven times in non-international games, and the numbers have been enormous. Jokić has averaged 37.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists in those meetings. Wembanyama has won two of them, while putting up 26.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 4.1 blocks and 1.9 steals.
Thursday’s game never turned into anything nasty, and Wembanyama said he felt that throughout the night.
"I don’t think it was a physical game tonight," he said. "There was a lot of respect from both sides. One situation was maybe a bit more aggressive, but ... there weren’t chippy moments."
France also had a leadership shift this week. Wembanyama was named captain of Les Bleus on Wednesday, taking over from Rudy Gobert. At 22, he is the youngest France captain since Tony Parker in 2003.
Frédéric Fauthoux pointed to Wembanyama’s "exemplary character" and "work ethic" in a press release before explaining the move after the game.
"It was a decision made by the coach and the staff," Fauthoux said. "I think the future belongs to Victor ... (so) there was no point in waiting. The time was right."
France now turns toward its two qualifying games against Slovenia and Sweden later this month, with the goal of earning a place in next summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar. For Wembanyama, the immediate task is getting sharper and helping France settle into a rhythm and a repeatable plan.
“Above all, it’s the ball we are playing with," Wembanyama said. "There are plenty of differences compared to the NBA, but this is one of the biggest."
Fauthoux echoed that challenge.
"It's not easy to establish a playing style in such a short period."
There will be one more chance to see these two big men share the floor before the games begin to count. France and Serbia are scheduled to meet again at Orleans' CO'Met Arena on Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Central, with United States viewers able to stream it via DAZN's Courtside 1891. Jokić said the latest meeting was useful for Serbia and expects another one soon.
“It was a good test for us against a quality opponent," the Denver Nuggets star said Thursday. "They are an unconventional team, especially with Victor and Rudy. They are dangerous, but we managed to control the game for the most part ... it was a good game for us.”
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