It wasn’t gold, but it was ecstatic for Serbia either way. After their heartbreak against Team USA, Nikola Jokic and Co. ensured they didn’t travel back home empty-handed. In a tough battle against the FIBA World Cup champions Germany, the Joker’s historic triple-double and the Serbian toughness prevailed against the odds. It was only the third Olympic medal in their history, and the team had to celebrate.

Apart from the singing on the bus, they also took a page out of Team USA’s book. After securing the bronze medal finish, the entire Serbia team lined up on the steps for a commemorative snap. It was similar to what the star-laden Team USA did after they ousted Serbia in the semifinals only two days ago. However, it wasn’t entirely the same.

There are a few reasons.

At first is Nikola Jokic. Yes, the catalyst to their bronze medal win played an equal part in ruining the team photograph. The Joker, rightfully placed in the center didn’t seem to be ready for the picture. In the final product, the three-time MVP looks distracted, not even looking toward the camera lens. His teammates though did their job perfectly in capturing the monumental moment.

The more bitter reason was put forth by the Team USA fans. It was the fact that Serbia not only copied their methods of celebration but also did it without being in gold medal contention. “USA more aura they literally beat them” a fan wrote when answering which team had the better image.

The 2016 Rio silver medalists are the only team to have pushed the NBA-powered Team USA to the cusp of defeat. Furthermore, they also beat Germany, which was heavily touted as a favorite to claim bronze honors. For Nikola Jokic and Co., they overruled the odds on both occasions. So despite not having a gold medal around their necks, Serbia’s improbable rise as a basketball nation is ample reason for their happiness.

And the fans were quick to remind the USA supporters about it.

Serbia fans show a wave of support for Nikola Jokic and Co.

The battle between Team USA and Serbia was tantalizing. But it was also controversial. After the game, a mass crowd felt the referees missed important calls that could have potentially influenced the result. Likewise, the Serbian advocates made sure to remind the world of the same. “The team that didn’t need the refs to push them to win the medal, or as we like to call them the REAL dream team” a user wrote on X.

Team USA displayed its true potential in the final quarter fightback against Serbia. It has been a long time since they had to fight relentlessly to book a win. The team that made it happen was Serbia, anchored by Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. That in itself was a commendable effort, even though the bronze medalist desired to emerge victors against the mighty USA.

Another reason many USA fans sided with their team was due to the allure and staggering popularity of the NBA stars on Team USA. Serbian fans didn’t mind that. However, they did have a fitting reply. “Some have an “iconic” photo, and others are an ICONIC team” one such comment read.

Unlike Team USA, the Serbian national team doesn’t have a glorious history. But the 2024 Paris Olympics squad is seen as the “best” in their history. Even the Germany head coach, Gordon Herbert claimed the Joker-headed Serbia was “the best team we played in the Olympics”. He placed them over the likes of France, who are in the gold medal clash besides the USA.

Bogdanovic revealed he and his comrades couldn’t sleep after the heartbreaking loss to Serbia. At the same time, Team USA was rapturously celebrating. But some Serbia fans feel it was a celebration of relief and not a true triumph. “For us Serbs, the only important thing is that the so-called dream team slept badly after the game with us. The poor stars were arguing with their fans on Twitter all night long. They say that our team had a peaceful sleep during that time” a fan wrote.

The remark is in reference to Kevin Durant in particular. At the near crack of dawn following the intense game, the Slim Reaper was waging war with fans on Twitter making them believe USA didn’t have a comfortable sleep after the contest.

Which photo do you like better? Let us know your preference in the comments below.