By the time this column hits the news stand or the online issue, a new FIBA world cup champion is already celebrating in Manila. But for many of us who are still guessing, one question is running at the back of our minds. Why the absence of Nikola Jokic in the Serbian team?
One popular figure once said” With great power comes great responsibility” and if your guess is Spiderman, you are wrong like many of us. It was Winston Churchill who originally use that phrase on his speech in 1906. It was reflection of how to handle power when you have it.
To some people having the power is the main objective above all, never mind how to use or abuse once you have it. It’s a matter of self-decision, a reflection of one’s values.
After a draining 2022-2023 NBA season in which he led his Denver Nuggets to its first title in 56 years (49 with the NBA and 9 with ABA), Jokic sued for time out from competitive basketball.” He’s physically and mentally exhausted.” said Serbian national coach Svetislav Pesic. “He’s not feeling ready to take responsibility at the moment.”
Jokic in a rare display of his love for his country and respect for his national team set aside his personal ego knowing fully well that playing in the world cup and competing against the best in the world is every player’s dream because he felt he’s not in tip top shape for the FIBA world cup.
The burden of carrying the team in his shoulders is too much a responsibility and the Joker fully knew well that’s he has not enough time to prepare himself for the task ahead. Being the top gun for an NBA champion team and among the top contender for the MVP in the last NBA season, he knew fully well that the eyes of the world is on him. And that’s draining.
In Philippine basketball the responsibility to make a good showing in the FIBA world cup lies not on the shoulder of a player. Yes, we expect Jordan Clarkson to deliver, Kai Sotto to somehow make his presence felt and so as the rest of the PBA players but the main responsibility is all concentrated on the shoulder of its national coach, Chot Reyes.
Though unpopular and hated he is by most basketball loving Filipinos, he chose to be a patriot. In his own words “It’s brutal. I will never turn my back to serving my country”. Reyes chose to coach the team when no one else would because of the issues in the preparation time, in assembling a team made of basketball stars aside from the injuries they suffered as the date of the tournament approaches.
“Through all the preparation and all these times, I always said judge us on the performance in the World Cup. And obviously we did not perform. I take full accountability.” He fell short with the expectation thus the best thing for him to do is to take full responsibility and resign. It’s a thankless job and only time will tell if his successor, the battle scarred veteran and top mentor Coach Tim Cone can turn the tide come Asian Games.
One must take responsibility for his choices and actions, for we learn nothing until we take ownership and direction of our lives. Saying something is easy but being responsible for it is the one that develop one’s character. Criticizing is one thing but when you are given the power to act and decide is another ballgame. Responsibility is such a lonely word.
