When Bogdan Bogdanovic dons the Serbian national team colors, he transforms into a completely different player. 

The 31-year-old Atlanta Hawks guard is right about average in the NBA, averaging 14.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over his seven-year career. However, he habitually turns into one of the best players in the world when playing for Serbia and their thrilling 95-91 semifinal loss to Team USA at the Paris Olympics was no exception.

Bogdanovic, who is Serbia’s team captain, set the tone early against Team USA, scoring nine points in the first quarter to help Serbia build an eight-point lead. Come the second quarter, they then extended their advantage to a high of 17.

Caught in the heat of their run, the 6’5 Bogdanovic drew the ire of the Americans after he hit a three-pointer late in the second quarter and celebrated by mimicking the signature celebration of Team USA legend Carmelo Anthony, who was seated courtside. 

Serbia led for over 35 of the game’s 40 minutes and would have waltzed into the gold medal game if not for an other-worldly fourth quarter from Team USA. The Americans closed the game with a line-up that had four NBA Most Valuable Player winners and they had to dig deep just to get the win. 

Bogdanovic–who has never even been named an NBA All-Star, but is a two-time FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team awardee–finished the evening with a team-high 20 points, three three-pointers, four rebounds, and three assists in 31 minutes. 

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic put on a valiant effort as well, teaming up with Bogdanovic to push the Americans to the brink. Jokic’s impact went beyond his statline of 17 points, five rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, and one block.

Jokic’s superior basketball IQ was on full display, and his presence clearly gave his team the extra confidence they needed to go toe-to-toe with the Americans.

Typically nonchalant on the court, Jokic showed exceptional passion throughout the semifinal as he yelled at anyone and everyone–from his teammates to his opponents to the referees–underscoring the importance of these national team games to him.

Serbia’s starting point guard Aleksa Avramovic thrived alongside Bogdanovic and Jokic, delivering his best performance of the Olympics with 15 points, including four three-pointers, along with four rebounds and three assists. Starters Filip Petrusev and Ognen Dobric added nine points each, while Marko Guduric and Vasilije Micic contributed nine and eight off the bench.

As a team, Serbia shot a decent 38.5% on their three-pointers as they made 15-of-39 attempts. Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by Stephen Curry’s nine-of-14 performance from three which bumped up the Americans’ team three-point shooting to 50% on 32 shots.

While Serbia has fallen short of its goal to win the gold medal, they still managed to secure bronze in the third place game against Germany with a 93-83 win where they led all throughout. Serbia led by as much as 19 points in the third quarter and this time around, they held on to take the win.

Bogdanovic and Jokic led the way for Serbia in the bronze medal game, combining for 35 points. Micic added 19 off the bench, while Avramovic and Petrusev had 13 and 11, respectively.

Serbia may not have lived up to the gold medal expectations that they set for themselves heading into these Olympics, but their gutsy performance versus the USA’s ‘A-Team’ and eventually securing bronze is a commendable feat in itself. 

Moving forward, the future remains bright for Serbia. Though this team will be on the older side come the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, there is no doubt that they are going to be in the thick of the hunt once again for that elusive gold medal.