Two of the NBA’s biggest stars, Nikola Jokić and newly minted France captain Victor Wembanyama, went head-to-head in an international friendly. The game may not have counted, but the matchup still had plenty of spotlight to it. But once again, Wembanyama found himself on the wrong side of a Jokić masterclass.

Jokić finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 29 minutes. Wembanyama, meanwhile, struggled in his first game back and his debut as Les Bleus skipper, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and six turnovers in 24 minutes. But after the game, he didn’t make any excuses.

“I feel a bit rusty,” Wembanyama admitted postgame. “We are still trying to get into rhythm and find patterns. We fought until the end, and I’m especially happy because of that.”

That rust was understandable. This was Wembanyama’s first game since the NBA Finals, and international basketball needs some time to adjust to. Meanwhile, Wembanyama himself pointed out one surprisingly simple difference in the game.

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“Above all, it’s the ball we are playing with,” Wembanyama said. “There are plenty of differences compared to the NBA, but this is one of the biggest.”

Whatever the reason might be, there is no denying that Jokić has made life particularly difficult for Wembanyama.

Across their seven head-to-head meetings in the NBA, Jokic has routinely schooled the young prodigy in the big man arts, averaging a staggering 37.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. Meanwhile, Wembanyama has won twice! This matchup was another reminder of the gap between these players.

Serbia carried a 72-62 cushion into the fourth and pushed it out to 12 with just over three minutes on the clock, looking well in control before France answered with a late push that trimmed the gap back down to three.

The chance to tie it fell to Wembanyama, but his step-back three to level the score never had a chance, as he missed a potential game-tying shot, and Serbia shut the door at the free-throw line.

It didn’t take long for social media to erupt with harsh criticism targeting Wemby’s late-game decision-making and questionable shot selection under pressure. Fans tore into the young big man for attempting to play like a perimeter scorer down the stretch rather than utilizing his generational size inside against Serbia’s frontline.

One frustrated fan posted, “wemby choked in the clutch again😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”

Another mocked his tendency to not play like a big man. “Somebody tell him he ain’t Kd.”

Expanding on that critique, a fan urged Wembanyama to play to his height advantages. “Dawg you’re not kd, just drive, these Serbian mfs are like 5″4.”

For many, this was a reminder of The Joker’s raw talent, in case Denver’s elimination by Minnesota this past season made us temporarily forget.

“Shocker one of the best players ever schools young star… is that hard for people to comprehend.”

But while fans were quick to turn the matchup into another chapter of the heated Jokic-Wembanyama debate, the two players themselves didn’t seem interested in making it personal. 

“I don’t think it was a physical game tonight,” Wembanyama said. “There was a lot of respect from both sides. One situation was maybe a bit more aggressive, but there weren’t chippy moments.”

Meanwhile, Jokic offered perhaps the biggest compliment of the night when asked about Wembanyama.

“He is a special opponent,” Jokic said. “He is unique as a player and as a person. I don’t see him as a rival, and I don’t take this personally. He has the opportunity to be the most unique basketball player we’ve ever seen. To be the best ever.”

Just like Jokic thinks of Wembanyama as special, even the latter’s team thinks so, why else would they trust the young shoulder to carry on the group? He was named captain of Les Bleus on Wednesday, succeeding Rudy Gobert at 22 years old. He is now the team’s youngest captain since Spurs legend Tony Parker in 2003.

This role is not something that’s given lightly, and France’s coach Frédéric Fauthoux explained their decision after the game, 

“It was a decision made by the coach and the staff,” Fauthoux said. “I think the future belongs to Victor…there was no point in waiting. The time was right.”

Fauthoux also admitted that France has plenty to figure out, too. “It’s not easy to establish a playing style in such a short period.”

Right now, France has little time to spare. Les Bleus will face Slovenia and Sweden later this month as they try to secure their place in next summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar. Before those games begin, though, Wembanyama gets another chance to settle into his new role.

France and Serbia will meet again at Orleans’ CO’Met Arena on August 23.

For Wembanyama, the rematch is less about settling a personal score with Jokic and more about getting into the rhythm, finding his footing as a captain and adapting to international games.