On August 29, the opening match of the FIBA European Basketball Championship 2025 kicked off in Riga, Latvia. Serbia defeated Estonia 98-64, making a perfect start.

This summer, Estonia's core center, Kočar, was sidelined due to injury, leaving them, already at a significant height disadvantage, virtually defenseless against Jokic's inside lineup. Serbia outscored them 32-12 in the first quarter , securing their victory.

Serbia's outstanding performance could be attributed to almost any player, but the best player went to young Nikola Jovic. He efficiently contributed 18 points and 6 assists in just 16 minutes of playing time, laying a solid foundation for the team's start. It was his energy from the perimeter and on the fast break that quickly got Serbia into the game.

Ultimately, Serbia prevailed by 34 points. Jokic, once again displaying the qualities of a world-class player, delivered 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists with a leisurely performance . In contrast, Henry Dreyer led Estonia with 11 points.

Despite the loss, the passion of Estonian fans still added a unique touch to the match. Although they faced a strong opponent in the first match, Estonia is still expected to bring unexpected surprises in the subsequent matches.