Serbia's head coach, Svetislav Pesic, didn't like the way the game vs. Team USA was officiated, arguing that Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic should have shot more free throws.
After leading Serbia to a historic win over Team USA in the 2002 World Cup, Svetislav Pesic came close to a second triumph over the ultimate powerhouse of world basketball in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
38
|
| Stephen Curry | |
| Points | 36 |
| Accuracy | 12-19 |
| Rebounds | 8 |
| Assists | 2 |
In the end, Serbia had to bow to Team USA (95-91) and the Serbian tactician was far from happy with the way the referees officiated the semifinal.
"I'm angry because we didn't get respect from the referees," he said, per Mozzart Sport.
"You know that in Serbia there is a saying that whoever loses has the right to be angry. I'm angry because we didn't get respect. I have to say that, because the best player in the world shot 4 free throws in 37 minutes," Pesic argued, referring to Nikola Jokic not getting enough foul calls.
"If our best scorer (Bogdan Bogdanovic) plays 32 minutes and shoots only one throw, that means strange things have been happening," the veteran play-caller continued.
"I do not diminish their victory, I wish them luck. But tonight, strange things happened," said Pesic, who assured everyone that he's 'calm, proud, but also disappointed.'
"We didn't get respect; not as a basketball nation, but as a team," he stressed.
"I've always told the players that if you keep quiet, if you fight and kick your stomach, the referees will reward you. We didn't have that tonight. That's how we ended a magnificent game," Pesic lamented in his postgame remarks.
Did Referees Cost Serbia the Win Against Team USA?
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