The stage is set for drama at EuroBasket 2025. Latvia, playing on home soil, knows exactly what stands between them and basketball glory: Nikola Jokić. As Kristaps Porziņģis puts it bluntly, they’ll be facing “probably the No. 1 player in the world.” That’s not just hype talking – that’s respect earned through years of getting outplayed by a generational talent.
Why Does Kristaps Porziņģis Consider Nikola Jokić the World’s Best?
“Jokic… This guy is probably No. 1 in the world. This is my opinion,” Porziņģis told EuroHoops.net ahead of Latvia’s group games. “It’s going to be a tough-tough challenge for us. We still have Turkey and Estonia first, and then Serbia. We have a little bit of time. We aren’t focused on Serbia yet, but we’re going to have our hands full.”
Porziņģis’ assessment carries weight because he’s not just throwing around compliments. The Atlanta Hawks center has shared the court with Jokić for nearly a decade, watching up close as the Denver Nuggets star built an untouchable resume: three-time NBA MVP, NBA champion, and the best passing big man the league has ever seen.
The numbers tell the story of their rivalry. These two European giants entered the NBA just one year apart – Jokić in 2014, Porziņģis in 2015. They’ve faced each other 14 times in regular-season play, and Jokić holds a commanding 10-4 advantage in those matchups.
That dominance shows up in the stat sheet, too. Jokić averages 24.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in their head-to-head meetings. Porziņģis counters with 20.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The one area where Porziņģis has the edge? Rim protection, averaging 1.5 blocks per game compared to Jokić’s 0.4.
Can Latvia Overcome Serbia’s Recent Dominance?
The international stage tells an even tougher story for Latvia. Serbia has won four of their last five meetings, turning what should be competitive games into demonstrations of superior depth and talent.
The Boston Celtics traded for Kristaps Porzingis to help deal with Nikola Jokić in the NBA Finals.
So far…. not effective. pic.twitter.com/PCTC3C2Io9
— Per Sources (@PerSources) March 8, 2024
Porziņģis isn’t alone in his evaluation of Jokić. The Serbian center consistently appears at the top of most experts’ rankings, though challengers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo keep the debate alive. What separates Jokić is that rare combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ that transforms teammates and dismantles defensive schemes.
For Latvia, the path through Group play means dealing with multiple elite centers. First, they’ll face Turkey’s Alperen Şengün, followed by a matchup against Estonia, and then comes the main event against Jokić and Serbia. Porziņģis will need to anchor Latvia’s defense while feeding off the energy of a home crowd in Riga.
The challenge seems overwhelming on paper, but it’s also an opportunity. Playing at home against the world’s best gives Latvia a chance to measure itself against elite competition. Whether they can rise to that level might define their entire tournament.
