We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Serbia.
Population: 6.9 mln
Players in the history of League: 46
Full list of players: Vukasin Aleksic, Milutin Aleksic, Danilo Andzusic, Luksa Andric, Dragan Apic, Ognen Askrabic, Milko Bjelica, Aleksandr Boic, Dejan Borovnjak, Dorde Gagic, Vladimir Golubovic, Tadija Dragicevic, Luka Drca, Stevan Jelovac, Ivan Zigeranovic, Stefan Jovic, Nenad Krstic, Dragan Labovic, Sava Lesic, Marko Marinovic, Stefan Markovic, Boban Marjanovic, Igor Milosevic, Branko Mirkovic, Vladimir Micov, Nemanja Nedovic, Milan Pavkovic, Ivan Paunic, Kosta Perovic, Nenad Pistoljevic, Nemanja Protic, Ivan Radenovic, Miroslav Radulica, Milovan Rakovic, Aleksandr Rasic, Nikola Rebic, Dusan Ristic, Boris Savovic, Marko Simonovic, Milos Teodosic, Milenko Tepic, Branko Cvetkovic, Goran Cakic, Dusan Sakota, Zoran Erceg, Nemanja Jaromaz.
There were 46 Serbian players in VTB United League. Ex-CSKA guard Milos Teodosic is the most famous and awarded with the record of 6 VTB United League titles, playoff MVP (2016), 3rd place in career assists and 11th place in career points.
Apart from Teodosic, there were 4 Serbian champions of VTB League: Nenad Krstic (3 wins), Vladimir Micov (2 wins), Ivan Radenovic (1 win) and Zoran Erceg (1 win).
Furthermore, the Serbian players took part in VTB United League All-Star Games. Stefan Markovic and Danilo Andzusic joined World Stars team in 2017, and Dusan Ristic played in 2020. CSKA guard Milos Teodosic was elected in 2017 to be in starting five, but missed the game due to injury.
In 2018, Serbian forward Stevan Jelovac set League’s scoring record with 49 points in single game. Danilo Andzusic is ranked 5th in the same list with a result of 40 points.
Basketball in Serbia
League: Кошаркашка лига Србије (Košarkaška liga Srbije)
Founded: 2006
Number of teams: 21
League’s web-site: https://www.kls.rs/
In 2020/21 season, there will be 21 teams 6 of which represent Beograd, country’s capital and the largest city. 16 teams play the regular season, and only 3 qualify for the playoff where they join 5 Serbian teams that compete in the Adriatic league (Borac, Crvena Zvezda, FMP, Mega Bemax, Partizan).
Apart from the Adriatic league, two most titled Serbian clubs: Partizan (8 titles) and Crvena Zvezda (5 titles) play in Europe. Partizan performs in Eurocup, and Crvena Zvezda in Euroleague.
In 2009, Partizan became the first (and yet the only) Serbian team that played against NBA team. The team from Beograd met Denver Nuggets (70:102) and Phoenix Suns (80:111) within 2009 Euruoleague American Tour.
Serbian clubs shall play at home arenas with a minimum capacity of 1000 seats, and the matches are broadcasted by largest Serbian TV networks RTS and Arena Sport.
Serbian league has 3 MVP awards: MVP of the first stage, MVP of the second stage and the Playoff MVP. VTB League players won these awards. Ex-UNICS guard Curtis Jerrells won MVP playoff in 2010/11, and Omar Thomas (he played in Krasnye Krylia, Vita and Zenit) won the same one year later.
There were also Russians playing the Serbian league: Pavel Gromyko (Crvena Zvezda 2007-08), Alexey Kotishevsky (Radnicki, 2009-10), Pavel Lobarev (Zlatibor, 2018-19, Spartak 2019, Vojvodina, 2019-20). In 2019/20 season Lobarev was in top 10 scoring players list (16.2 PPG).
Interesting fact
Four Serbian players moved to the NBA after VTB United League. Milos Teodosic (CSKA -> Clippers), Nemanja Nedovic (Lietuvos Rytas -> Golden State) and Miroslav Radulica (Azovmash -> Milwaukee) were transferred directly from the League clubs while Boban Marjanovic (Nizhny Novgorod -> San Antonio) took a transit period in Mega Vizura and Crvena Zvezda.
Serbia National team
FIBA rank: 5
FIBA members: since 1936
Achievements: 2-time world champions (1998, 2002), 3-time Eurobasket champions (1995, 1997, 2001), 2 silver medals of the Olympics (1996, 2016), World Cup silver (2014), Eurobasket silver (2009, 2017)
Before 1992, the Serbians had played for Yugoslavia national team who won the Olympics (1980), 3 World Cups (1970, 1978, 1990) and 5 Eurobaskets (1973, 1975, 1977, 1989, 1991).
In the recent time Serbia won two World Cups and three Eurobaskets. The latest success was marked in 2002 when the Serbians won the golden medals in World Cup in the USA.
In the last decade, Serbia won silver medal at each major event: 2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympic Games, 2017 Eurobasket.
As of today Serbia is ranked 5th in FIBA global rating (2nd in Europe after Spain).
Most famous Serbian players in history
Vlade Divac. 2 World Cups, 3 Eurobaskets, the first Serbian selected for NBA All-Star Game. In 1991, he was included in FIBA 50 greatest players, in 2008 in Euroleague 50 greatest players, inducted in FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010 and in Basketball Hall of fame in 2019. In 2015-2020, Vlade Divac was Sacramento Kings’ general manager.
Drazen Dalipagic. Olympic champion, world champion, 3-time Eurobasket champion, 2-time Yugoslavia champion. Named Eurobasket MVP in 1977, World Cup MVP in 1978. FIBA 50 greatest players in 1991, Euroleague 50 greatest players in 2008. Dalipagic became the first Serbian player to be inducted in Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. Inducted in FIBA Hall of Fame in 2008
Dragan Kicanovic. Olympic champion, World champion, World Cup MVP, 3-time Eurobasket champion, 3-time Yugoslavia champion, member of FIBA Hall of Fame, named the best Yugoslavia player of 20th century,
Peja Stojakovic. Won World Cup, Eurobasket, Eurobasket MVP and NBA. Took part in 3 NBA All-Star games, top scoring Serbian player in NBA (13647 points). In 2015-2020, worked in Sacramento Kings’ office as an assistant to Vlade Divac.
Dejan Bodiroga. Won 2 World Cups, 3 Eurobaskets, silver of Olympic Games and 3 Euroleagues, World Cup MVP, 2 Euroleague Final Four MVP, 2 Euroleague Top Scorer awards. Joined Euroleague’s 50 greatest players list in 2008.
Worth mentioning: Predrag Danilovic, Aleksandr Djordjevic, Zoran Slavnic, Radivoj Korac, Nikola Jokic.
Dmitriy Kolinov
