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We are not only in Serbia to drink rakija and eat with friends. We are also here to learn about the basketball culture of Serbia and why this country and region of the world enjoys so much success in the sport. To achieve that goal, we interviewed Serbian basketball players throughout the week we were here. Recently, I sat down with Adam, Miroslavić and the Secretary General of the Serbian Basketball Coaches Association, Strahinja Vasiljevic, to gain more insight into the basketball DNA of this country.
I quickly learned that coaching in Serbia is more valued than in the regions. Simply put, in Serbia it’s more about the team, but in the United States it’s more about the individual. Trainers will run the show in Serbia. Players run the show in America. There are many former coaches who are seen as royalty in Serbia. Shout out to Miroslav for translating the interview in real time.
Here are some (but not close to all) of the historical Serbian basketball coaches and over the years:
Borislav Stankovic He was a Serbian player and then coach from 1950-1970, but is more recognized for his play in the region. At one point, Stankovic elevated FIBA and revolutionized the governing body. It was his idea to allow NBA players to play in international tournaments like the Olympics. Stankovic’s referendum in 2010
Neboja Popovic Some call him the father of modern Serbian basketball. From 1946-1955, he was a 10-time Yugoslavian League champion. He served as president of the Yugoslavian Basketball Federation and many credit him with getting Yugoslavian basketball to where it is today. Without Popovic, many who are close to the country’s basketball history do not think that Serbian basketball would have reached its current level.
Alexander Nikolic Yugoslavian basketball is another father. He was a mentor to many world-class basketball coaches, such as Zeljko Obradovic, another famous Serbian coach. Nikolic is in the Naismith Basketball and FIBA Hall of Fame. He was a four-time Yugoslavian League champion and a three-time Euroleague champion. Nikolic coached the Yugoslavian national team between 1951 and 1965, followed by a second stint in the late 1970s. He coached future FIBA Hall-of-Famers and won many medals for Yugoslavia in international tournaments.
Svetislav Pesic He is another famous Serbian basketball coach. He is the current coach of the Serbian national team. Pesic is the first national coach to win a gold medal with an NBA team. In the year In 2002, Pesic and Yugoslavia (Vlad Divac and Peja Stojakovic were both on that team) defeated George Karl and the United States to win gold in the 2002 FIBA World Cup. Pesic won gold with Yugoslavia at the 2001 Euros.
Pesic is very interesting to coach Serbia this summer. He is already a famous Serbian coach and an icon in this country. I think Pesic and Jokic would be a great fit together. Jokic can learn a lot from Pesic and vice versa. I’m interested to see how they stack up. Pesic should have Jokic’s respect. He is a former Euroleague champion as a player (1979) and coach (2003). And if past friendlies are any indication, Pesic will respect the player that Jokic is, perhaps unlike any of Serbia’s previous national team coaches. Jokic has really been the man for Serbia this summer and Pesic is running everything through him like he wants.
There are layers here. Pesic, 72, may not be the head coach of the Serbian national team for years and years to come. In what could be the last (or last) chance to lead Serbia to another gold at international competition, Jokic will start his first tournament as the country’s undisputed leader. That story feels good. After Belgrade legend Milos Teodosic was surprisingly cut from the squad earlier this month, Jokic is now the undisputed leader of the Serbian squad. Now it’s his show.
Pesic is one to watch as Jokic passes the baton to lead Serbia into a new generation of basketball in this country. Thursday’s match between Serbia and Greece will be a must-see on TV, with Serbia needing a win to secure a place at next year’s World Cup.
Another big event on Day 5 in Serbia is the Red Star-Maccabi football match. Our friend Marko (@theMilenkovic) hooked us up with the tickets, and I can’t thank the guy enough. It was an incredible experience, even though the crowd was a little tamer than usual because they were on trial. Red Star fans were banned for using firecrackers at Tuesday’s game and the club have not played in front of their home fans for four consecutive games.
Still, the atmosphere was better than any sporting event I’ve been to in the United States. It was amazing to see such passion firsthand. It was straight up singing (songs I didn’t know) and singing (phrases I didn’t understand), jumping around and yelling at protesters and officials for 90 minutes. It’s okay that I don’t know the words or the language of Red Star diehards. It was pure joy to be in that stadium…at least for most of the first half.
I don’t want to summarize the game here for the Red Star fans reading this, but it was honestly one of the most impressive losses I’ve ever seen. Like, I can’t believe that actually happened. I will talk about it forever. Check it out if you want the details.
My first Champions League game was still an unforgettable night.
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