NBA Commissioner on Jokic has just dropped a bombshell, stirring excitement and curiosity among basketball fans. According to Adam Silver, both Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, two of the NBA’s brightest international stars, have personally requested the league to host games in their home countries—Serbia and Slovenia. While the desire to see the NBA take its talent to the Balkans is undeniable, the logistical nightmare of organizing such an event remains a major obstacle. The passion is there, but the challenges are immense.
NBA Commissioner on Jokic and Doncic’s Push for Games in Serbia and Slovenia—What’s Holding Them Back?
During a roundtable discussion in Abu Dhabi with a select group of journalists, Silver revealed the depth of these requests, showcasing how much Jokic and Doncic want to bring the world’s premier basketball league to their home soil. “Nikola and Luka have both asked if we could bring NBA games to Serbia or Slovenia,” Silver disclosed. But before you get your hopes up, it’s important to remember that this is no easy feat.
While the excitement of bringing NBA action to the Balkans is palpable, Silver was blunt about the hurdles involved. “It’s not just about the game—it’s a massive undertaking,” he explained. “Hosting these games is resource-intensive and doesn’t make financial sense for a one-off event.” Unlike cities like Mexico City, Paris, or Abu Dhabi, which are part of long-term NBA plans, Serbia and Slovenia face unique obstacles that make organizing games there challenging.
Still, Silver expressed genuine admiration for the passion of basketball fans across Europe, particularly in the Balkans. “I deeply appreciate the enthusiasm of fans in Serbia, Slovenia, and Greece, and I understand the importance of players like Jokic, Giannis, and Doncic to their home countries,” he said. “But we have to consider the increasing cost of such events. It’s not off the table, but it’s far from a done deal.”
It’s clear that both Jokic and Doncic are pushing hard to have NBA games on their home turf, and the Balkan region would undoubtedly go wild for such an event. The passion of European fans is undeniable, but Silver’s candid remarks about the financial and logistical complexities make it seem like a distant dream for now. However, the persistence of players like Jokic and Doncic could eventually move mountains, or at least bring an NBA game to Serbia or Slovenia.
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