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Jokic sat out for different reasons. It had nothing to do with rest and everything to do with that max contract that he signed.
Team USA is not different to other NT. Team USA has a consistent core of players that they always sent regardless of what tournament is being played. Same with every other NT.
Is the whole squad back together to blend as a team? No! So I find it a bit rich calling out Bogi. Where is Buddy? Where is Yogi? Where are the rest of the players?
This team has blended well together over the last 2 season. Staying in Sacramento because it would make fans all warm and fuzzy is not exactly a great reason. Bogi has family, friends, former team mates to catch up with and get away from the NBA bubble.Is he not allowed to do that these days?
There was a video of Jokic in his home town playing pick up ball with his childhood friends on a concrete basketball court that looks worse for wear. Should he also stay in the bubble?
These guys bust their backside off for majority of the year. They are allowed to have some down time to get away from the team and team mates. As long as they put in the work, I am not worried about it and one thing Bogdan cannot be accused off is not putting in the work. He has been labeled as the hardest worker along with Buddy on the roster.
People are calling out Bogdan specifically because he struggled this year after battling through injuries. It seems like instead of taking the offseason to rest and fully recover, he's deciding to prep for the world cup. Yes it's still 3 months away, but where do his priorities lie?
Look at Bogdan's timeline:
Summer of 2017: plays in the Eurobasket
Fall of 2017 NBA season: slow start accredited to fatigue from Eurobasket. Otherwise good season.
April 24 2018 post season: slight tear of left meniscus, gets surgery, out for 8-10 weeks
Late summer of 2018:: plays in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, suffers minor knee injury
September 2018: Minor knee surgery 4-6 weeks
Entire 2018/2019 NBA season: inconsistent play accredited to 2 minor knee surgeries. Admits he played through pain.
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It's obvious how important playing for the NT is for him. No one will fault him for that. However, will this have yet another impact on his play with the Kings?
If this was Buddy or anyone else, everyone would be begging them to rehab this summer instead of playing on the NT. I guess the good thing for the Kings is that he's only our 4th most important player (Fox, Bagley, and Buddy ahead).