Stefan Markovic’s basketball is unselfish and focused on making those around him better. The Serb isn’t always in the limelight, but he’s the one making key passes and controlling Zenit’s tempo.
The March MVP shares with VTB-League.com about meeting a young Steph Curry, Karasev’s advice, Russian music, a career in football and more.
– Zenit has won 14 straight. Do you believe you can win the championship this season?
– Yes, we have a chance to be 1st. The team is on a nice roll. We are only thinking about the playoffs now. There won’t be any easy games.
– What separates Zenit from other teams?
– We have a very good coach, a solid selection of players and great team chemistry. Everyone is focused on the team result, not personal stats. It’s nice to work on a team like this.
– Vasily Karasev is very passionate and animated, including during timeouts. How do you relate to it?
– If a coach is passionate, then he really cares about the team and wants to be successful. I really like working with Vasily Karasev. We understand each other very well, so there are never any issues.
– He was a point guard himself. Has he shared any secrets with you?
– He does it often: at practice, before games, during games. He helps with different bits of advice. He understands what it means to be a point guard. He provides a certain amount of freedom and lets me be myself. That’s why it’s very comfortable working with him.
– Is St. Petersburg the most beautiful city you’ve ever lived in?
– Yes! My wife and I liked it from day one. St. Petersburg has both a historic center that’s lovely to walk around and lots of different museums and memorials. It’s also a big city where you can find anything you need. I’m really glad to be living here.
– What do you think is the most beautiful spot in the city?
– I really like the historic center. That’s what St. Petersburg is known for. When you’re driving or walking around, it’s like you’ve gone back in time several centuries. You begin to understand how people used to live.
– Have you heard the expression: “In Peter, you drink?”
– I’ve seen it in headlines, but I don’t know what it means…
– It’s a famous phrase from a song by the group Leningrad.
– Interesting, I need to hear it!
– In general, do you know much about Russian music?
– Not too much. But I like the Russian songs I hear on the radio. They’ve got something in common with Serbian music.
– Janis Timma is good friends with Sergey Karasev. Who do you spend the most time with off the court?
– My wife and kids and I spend a lot of time with Ryan Toolson, Kyle Landry, Aaron White, Trevor Mbakwe and their families. We’ve also become friends with FC Zenit players Danny and Domenico Criscito and their families. It turns out we have a lot in common. We don’t always talk about sports. We really enjoy the free time we spend together.
– Have you gone to any Zenit football matches?
– So far I haven’t been able to make any matches because of the schedule. But I hope I’ll have a chance to get to the stadium soon.
– You won the 2007 junior world championships with Serbia, taking down a USA team with DeAndre Jordan and Steph Curry in the final. Do you remember the game?
– Of course, I’ll never forget it! Especially since we were playing at home in Serbia. We lost a close game to the Americans in the group stage, so we really wanted to get revenge. I remember the final was sold out. We had 8,000 fans there. We played our game and fed off the energy from the fans. We didn’t even think about who we were facing. Of course, now it’s nice to realize that we beat some future NBA superstars.
– You also played against the USA in the recent Olympics….
– That was my best experience playing for the national team. Every athlete dreams of playing in the Olympics and going against the USA in the final and winning silver was a respectable result. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make it close in the final game, unlike the group stage, when we only lost by three.
– After the game against the Americans, you announced that you were retiring from the national team. Why did you decide to leave so early at age 28?
– Because of my physical condition. I can tell my body is getting older and I need a lot more time to recover from serious injuries. That’s why it was time to make way for younger players on the national team.
– Do you watch the NBA?
– I follow the results, but I don’t watch that many games.
– In your opinion, who deserves the regular season MVP: James Harden or Russell Westbrook?
– They are both having incredible seasons, but I’d give the MVP to Russell Westbrook. He averaged a triple-double for a season, which is unbelievable in modern basketball.
– Milos Teodosic is thinking about making a move to the NBA. Have you thought about trying your luck overseas?
– Any pro player thinks about that, since there’s nothing bigger to dream about. I don’t know if I’ll have an opportunity to play in the NBA, but I’m very happy where I am right now. I had a good career with the national team, I live in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg and play alongside European basketball stars.
– Basketball is much more popular in Serbia than in Russia. Why?
– Historically, that’s how it developed. Serbia is a small country and people are obsessed with basketball. Russia, on the other hand, has a lot of different sports and people go to soccer and hockey games. The important thing is that both countries are definitely into sports.
– Imagine you were VTB League president. What’s the first thing you would do to make basketball more popular in Eastern Europe and raise the level of the League?
– I think that the current League leadership is doing everything it can to popularize basketball here. The level of competition is improving each year and the recent All-Star Game in Sochi was an unbelievable event that I will always remember. I know a lot of players that want to play in the VTB United League.
– Would you like your son to also play basketball as a career?
– The important thing is for him to be happy and enjoy what’s he doing. I’ll support him no matter what, whether or not he choose a career in sports.
– How often do your wife and kids come to home games?
– My wife and son come to almost all the home games. I really like having their support at the arena. My daughter has never been to a basketball game. She’s only four months old.
– One last question: If not basketball, what would you have done….?
– Football. I think I could have been a decent football player. In any case, my career would have been in sports, because I never saw myself doing anything else.
