Jalen Hood-Stewart Hits Buzzer-Beater to Beat Serbia in Dramatic Friendly

On August 23, 2026, Serbia and France faced off in a highly anticipated basketball friendly featuring strong rosters. The game ended dramatically with Jalen Hood-Stewart, a star of Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring a buzzer-beater to secure the win for France. This decisive basket came moments after what appeared to be a game-winning shot by Serbia's Marko Gudurić. However, Serbia's defense faltered significantly in the final possession, drawing widespread criticism despite the match being a friendly.

European media outlets sharply criticized Serbia's defensive lapse. The French outlet 50 Nuances commented that Serbia "forgot the concept of defense" in the final play. Sergio Leivares from Mundo Deportivo described Serbia's defensive effort as a "crazy nap," while Ivan Bass from DAZN called it an "embarrassing lapse." Fans of Denver Nuggets, where Nikola Jokić plays, were also surprised by Jokić's unusual passivity during the last possession, noting he stood still instead of defending aggressively. Serbian media acknowledged Serbia's comeback from a 19-point deficit but highlighted the poor defense in the final moments that allowed Hood-Stewart's winning basket.

The game showcased the talent of both teams but ended with Serbia's defensive mistakes overshadowing their strong performance. Hood-Stewart's buzzer-beater was widely praised as a clutch moment, while Serbia's defensive breakdown sparked debate about their readiness and focus even in a friendly match context.