"He Dodged Bombs and Bullets in Serbia, and You Think You Can Rattle Him?" Former NBA Star Silences Nikola Jokic's Critics

Pulse Sports Team 13:46 - 27 October 2026

Former NBA center Olden Polynice fired back at Nikola Jokic's critics, pointing to the Serbian superstar's upbringing and unbreakable mentality, while Draymond Green also praised his relentless work ethic.

As the American media spent days dissecting the tensions between the stands and the court, former NBA veteran Olden Polynice weighed in, shutting down critics with a brutally honest reality check.

"He dodged bombs and bullets in Serbia"

Appearing on the "Byron Scott's Fast Break" podcast, the former Utah, Seattle, and Clippers big man pulled no punches in explaining what the Sombor native is truly made of, recalling the wartime conditions Nikola endured during his childhood in Serbia.

"Do you really think the Joker gets rattled by some noise and boos from the stands? That guy grew up in a war-torn country, dodging bombs, missiles, and bullets as a kid! What are we even talking about here? Stop with that nonsense," Polynice asserted.

Beyond his unbreakable mindset, Polynice highlighted Jokic's exceptional work ethic, a rare commodity in today's NBA. In an era where marquee superstars routinely pick and choose games to sit out for load management, Nikola suits up every single night without making excuses.

An Old-School Mentality That Rejects Load Management

"Jokic is built for literally any era of basketball because he combines incredible finesse with sheer physical toughness. He plays every single game! There is no load management with him, no dodging opponents, and no fake injuries to sit out a matchup. Because of that warrior mentality and hunger to compete, Jokic would dominate in any era in basketball history—whether you put him in the eighties, the nineties, or today," the former NBA center added.

Backing for Jokic's uncompromising stance also came from one of the league's fiercest competitors, Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors forward openly defended the Serbian center on his podcast:

"He wasn't joking, he's 100% right!"

"Basketball doesn't exist without fans, but sometimes people cross the line of common sense. I get it when that happens in Philadelphia, where the crowd is notoriously ruthless, but booing your own team on opening night in Denver makes zero sense! I'm completely with Jokic on this. If you come to a game just to boo guys who are giving it their all, you're not supporting the team and you might as well stay home. Some reporters in the room laughed at his comments, but I saw Nikola's face—he was dead serious. If you're not there to support, don't even show up," Green concluded.