Rumors

Since the end of the Olympic Games in Paris, Serbia has been holding its breath waiting for one decision: According to Meridian Sport, the best basketball player in the world is close to making that decision. And fans in Serbia have reason to be optimistic. Jokić is expected to soon give an official nod to the invitation from head coach Svetislav Pešić, with whom he has already spoken. The plan is for the Serbian team—with the world’s best player—to go for European gold.

Meridian Sports

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella put his signature today by approving the CDM proposal President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella put his signature today by approving the CDM proposal to confer Italian citizenship for sporting merit on Donte DiVincenzo.

Sportando

Despite his pride and long-standing role in the international scene since his first EuroBasket in 2011, 35-year-old Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has hinted that the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2025 will likely be his last with the national team. "I think after the EuroBasket, that'll be it," Vucevic told Vijesti, via FIBA. "I'll give my best, enjoy it, and try to achieve the best result possible. I'm entering the final phase of my career," he added. "My focus will shift to rest during summers, to be with my family. It's not 100 percent certain, but at the moment I believe these will be my last games for the national team."

BasketNews

Nikola Jokic is expected to join Serbia in the upcoming 2025 EuroBasket. According to Meridian, Jokic is close to making the decision and officially accept the invitation of Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic to become a member of the national team for a second straight summer.

EuroHoops.net

Jokic will now headline a stacked Serbian roster that will also include Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic among others.

EuroHoops.net

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo is officially receiving Italian citizenship and will be eligible to join the national team in the 2025 EuroBasket.

EuroHoops.net

The saga of American-born DiVincenzo getting an Italian passport had begun back in 2018 when the player was an NBA rookie with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s mentioned his willingness to represent Italy multiple times and now it seems that he’ll wear the Azzurri jersey for the first time in the upcoming European championship.

EuroHoops.net

Former French national team head coach Vincent Collet admitted he was pleased that NBA superstar Joel Embiid chose to represent Team USA instead of joining France for the 2024 Paris Olympics. "I was happy Embiid didn't come last year," Collet told BasketNews at the B8 Summit in Vilnius last week. "I think we don't need that," he added, referring to the naturalization of players on national teams.

BasketNews

In a follow-up conversation with BasketNews, Collet expanded on his stance. He revealed that he was powerless to oppose France's pursuit of naturalizing Embiid, especially with the decision coming from high-ranking officials. "I couldn't really do that because it was coming from even higher—like the Minister," Collet explained. "It was something big. The Olympic Games were in France, and they thought it was, for us, insurance to be better. But for me, it wasn't that clear," he said.

BasketNews

In a follow-up conversation with BasketNews, Collet expanded on his stance. He revealed that he was powerless to oppose France's pursuit of naturalizing Embiid, especially with the decision coming from high-ranking officials. "I couldn't really do that because it was coming from even higher—like the Minister," Collet explained. "It was something big. The Olympic Games were in France, and they thought it was, for us, insurance to be better. But for me, it wasn't that clear," he said.

BasketNews

According to Gazzetta, Tristan Vukcevic — who was eligible to represent Italy (his birthplace, Siena), Sweden (his mother’s homeland), Greece (where he grew up and developed as a player), and Serbia (his father’s country) — has ultimately chosen to play for the Serbian national team. Vukcevic averaged 9.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in just 14.6 minutes per game last season with the Wizards.

BasketNews

“I hated it,” Mark Cuban said of NBA players participating in the Olympics. “I complained about it every single year. Because, in my attitude, guys going to play for the Olympics, Comcast/NBC is making billions. The IOC, making billions. Even FIBA, making a lot. …And we’re giving all these guys for free and taking all the injury risk.”

Awful Announcing

“What I would tell [commissioner] David Stern and then Adam [Silver] … you know how in soccer, for the Olympics it’s 21-and-under, 22-and-under, whatever it is? And then [FIFA] own the World Cup? And the World Cup’s a bigger event? I’m like, ‘give [the Olympics] our young kids. Do the same thing as soccer. Let the 21-and-under play for the Olympics, and then create our own international World Cup.’ … And they were like, ‘Well, FIBA. We got this contract with FIBA.’ Well that contract will expire. And them immediately — like, they wouldn’t tell me anything — but they were like, ‘Okay, we signed an extension with FIBA,'” Cuban explained, giving a dramatic eye-roll.

Awful Announcing

Anthony Chiang: As first mentioned on the NBA TV broadcast, the plan is for Pelle Larsson to leave Las Vegas to join Sweden's national team after tomorrow's Heat summer league game. Larsson expected to play in the EuroBasket tournament later this offseason.

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