Nikola Jokic Doesn’t Spare JJ Redick’s Strategy Even in EuroBasket as Serbia Outlasts Latvia

EuroBasket 2025 promised fireworks when Serbia traveled to Riga for a Group A clash against co-hosts Latvia, and the game delivered everything fans could have asked for: high drama, superstar performances, and a finish that kept 11,000 fans on the edge of their seats. Serbia emerged with a hard-fought 84–80 win, improving to 3-0 and punching their ticket to the Round of 16, while Latvia dropped to 1-2 and saw their margin for error shrink.

At the heart of it all was Nikola Jokic. Playing in a hostile Arena Riga, the Serbian giant put together one of the greatest performances of his international career, torching Latvia for 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. He even brushed off a nasty first-half fall that left his elbow bleeding, returning to dominate both inside and out. His late and-one against Rolands Smits and a pair of clutch free throws sealed the victory. But while the stat line was breathtaking, what made this game fascinating was how Latvia tried to stop him, and why their plan sparked debate among analysts.

Latvia’s entire defensive game plan revolved around Nikola Jokic. Instead of sending constant double teams, they chose to guard him one-on-one, using Kristaps Porzingis, Andrejs Gražulis, Rolands Smits, and Klāvs Čavars in various matchups. Their approach was to front him in the post, denying the easy entry pass and forcing Serbia into lob passes or riskier angles.

If that sounds familiar to NBA fans, there’s a reason. A BasketNews analyst pointed out that the tactic looked eerily similar to what JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers tried earlier this season in a regular-season matchup against Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Redick’s idea was to prevent Jokic from orchestrating the game as a facilitator by making it difficult to feed him the ball in his sweet spots. Latvia took that playbook and applied it on the EuroBasket stage.

On paper, the strategy made sense. Limit Jokic’s assists, make him a scorer, and try to keep the rest of Serbia quiet. In the first half, it even caused problems. Serbia struggled to find clean entry passes to their star, and Jokic had to rely on offensive rebounds and pick-and-roll touches to stay involved.

Additionally, in that very regular-season game where Redick’s Lakers used a similar approach, Jokic struggled offensively, going just 2-for-7 from the field and scoring 12 points, mainly from free throws. This defensive scheme forced the Nuggets into their fifth-worst offensive rating of the season. The Lakers’ strategy was comprehensive—beyond fronting Jokic, they sent help defenders whenever he received the ball and aggressively disrupted passing lanes, resulting in 20 Nuggets turnovers.

But Serbia adapted. In the second half, head coach Svetislav Pešić dialed up more pick-and-roll actions, which made it easier to get the ball into Jokic’s hands. And once he had it, Latvia’s single coverage simply wasn’t enough.

The BasketNews analyst was blunt in their assessment: “You can’t play the same defense the whole game. Even in the end, they’re down by four or six, and Jokic gets an and-one because nobody helps. You have to try something else. Surprise them. Maybe other Serbian players weren’t ready for that responsibility in the final minute.”

That final possession summed it up perfectly. With the game on the line, Latvia stayed true to their plan, and Nikola Jokic punished them.

Latvia didn’t hide their intentions. As Davis Bertāns explained afterward: “Obviously, Jokic is the best player in the world. There wasn’t much we could do to stop him. What gave us the chance is keeping everybody else as low scoring, that really gave us an opportunity.”

To their credit, the plan worked in patches. Serbia’s supporting cast, players like Marko Gudurić, Aleksa Avramović, and Ognjen Dobrić, were kept in check for stretches. But when you surrender 39 points to one man, even in front of a raucous home crowd, it’s hard to call the approach a success. Serbia also crushed Latvia 42–22 in points in the paint, further exposing the risks of sticking with single coverage.

Serbia’s Depth Shines Through Nikola Jokic

What makes Serbia dangerous is that they’re not just Nikola Jokic. Even with captain Bogdan Bogdanović sidelined by a hamstring injury, their depth proved valuable. Gudurić, Avramović, and Dobrić combined for six made threes, while young talents like Nikola Jović and Nikola Topić continued to provide energy. Filip Petrušev summed it up best:

“He’s our leader. When Nikola plays like that, it gives everybody else great motivation to step up.” Serbia’s 3-0 start includes dominant wins over Estonia and Portugal before outlasting Latvia, cementing their place as Group A favorites and one of the frontrunners for the title.

The comparison to JJ Redick’s Lakers strategy is telling. In the NBA, Redick had more depth around him to throw different looks at Jokic and could rely on the long grind of a regular season to refine adjustments. In EuroBasket, Latvia’s roster was thinner, and the stakes higher. By sticking with one look for too long, they allowed Jokic to showcase his adaptability.

And that’s the real takeaway here: Nikola Jokic isn’t just a facilitator. When you try to cut off his passing, he can morph into a scorer of the highest order. His 39-point night was proof that he can dominate any way he’s asked.

This victory keeps Serbia unbeaten and riding a wave of confidence. With Jokic in peak form and a roster full of NBA-caliber talent, they’ve looked like the most complete team in the tournament so far. Latvia, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle. At 1-2, they’ll need to pick up wins against Czechia and Türkiye to stay alive.

Elsewhere, other stars like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are commanding headlines, but it’s Jokic and Serbia who currently look the part of favorites.

Latvia’s attempt to apply a JJ Redick-inspired strategy against Nikola Jokic showed ambition but lacked flexibility. By refusing to adjust in crunch time, they gave Jokic the chance to remind the basketball world why he’s considered the best player alive. His ability to adapt, score, and lead Serbia through adversity has made them the team to beat in EuroBasket 2025.

What do you think, should Latvia have doubled Jokic late in the game, or was their “make him a scorer” plan still the right call despite the outcome?