Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic announced in a statement obtained by ESPN on Wednesday that he will not be joining the Serbian national basketball team, at least for the Olympic qualifying tournament.
"The normal state of my body required a prolonged absence from the field to recover, and this was at the suggestion of the Nuggets" and an inevitability that I must accept, Jokic wrote in a translated statement.
It is unclear whether Jokic will not participate in the Tokyo Games if Serbia qualifies.
Jokic has appeared in all 109 Nuggets games since August 1 and finished third of the season in minutes total with 2,488.
Serbian national team coach Igor Kokoskov said he plans to speak directly to Jokic.
The 26-year-old Jokic was recently named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, and was on Tuesday All-Star alongside Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. Was named to the NBA first team. Leonard. This was Jokic's third consecutive All-NBA selection, including a second straight first-team clearance.
The Nuggets were swept by the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
Serbia, who won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, plays in the qualifying tournament in Belgrade from 29 June to 4 July.