Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), 2023 NBA champion and the Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, will not play for Serbia in the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup, according to Mozzart Sport on Sunday.

Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game in 69 appearances for the Nuggets during the 2022-23 regular season. The team entered the playoffs as the leader of the Western Conference, knocked out the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers on their way to the NBA Finals, and beat the Miami Heat to win the first title in franchise history.

Jokic scored 30 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game in the postseason, including 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the NBA Finals. He was the leader in total points (600), rebounds (269) and assists (190) in the playoffs while dropping 10 triple-doubles in 20 games.

Jokic played for Serbia in the EuroBasket last year and is likely to play for the national team in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. The NBA Finals didn't end until June 12. He understandably needs some time to rest.

Jokic's absence will be good news for the Nuggets' general manager Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone, who definitely don't want to see their best player come back overloaded, or, worse, hurt, before the 2023-24 NBA season begins.

The fact that they won't have to scratch their brains over how to guard one of the best offensive big men in basketball history in the World Cup should relieve the other three teams, China, Puerto Rico and South Sudan, of their pressure in Group B.

Serbia will play China, Puerto Rico and South Sudan in order on August 26, 28 and 30, respectively.