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 are moving to Slovenia.
Population: 2,07 mln
Players in the history of League: 9.
Full list of players: Sani Becirovic, Primoz Brezec, Zoran Dragic, Miha Zupan, Rasid Mahalbasic, Bostjan Nachbar, Matic Rebec, Hasan Rizvic, Matjaz Smodis.
There are 9 Slovenian players in the history of VTB United League.
The most of them is Matjaz Smodis, he was playing for CSKA in 2009/10 season and became League’s champion. In 2010/11 season Matjaz and his National teammate Sani Becirovic won silver medals as CSKA players.
Games spent and scoring leader in VTB League among Slovenes is Rasid Mahalbasic (79 games, 13,1 points per game), seasons spent leader is Hasan Rizvic (5 seasons).
Moreover, there was one American player with Slovenian citizenship in the history of the tournament – Anthony Randolph. Since 2014 till 2016 the center was wearing Lokomotiv-Kuban jersey, and in 2015/16 season he became Loko’s top scorer (16,8 points).
Basketball in Slovenia
League: Liga Nova KBM (Premier A Slovenian Basketball League)
Founded: in 1991
Number of teams: 11
League’s web-site: https://www.kzs.si/
In Slovenian championship, which is now 29 years old, 11 teams from 11 different cities will participate. The most titled clubs are Olimpija (17 titles) and KRKA (7 titles).
Besides Liga Nova KBM Slovenian teams also play in Slovenia Cup and Adriatic League (Olimpija, KRKA and Koper – in the first division, Rogaska – in the second), and Olimpija is the only country representative in European competitions, Ljubljana team participate in EuroCup.
After a season (2 rounds of regular season, quarterfinals and semi-finals are played till 2 wins, final is played till 3) regular season MVP, second round MVP and Final MVP awards are given, and furthermore symbolic starting fives are defined.
Among former Slovenian championship seasons’ leaders there are some ex-VTB United League players. In 2008/09 and 2009/10 season the most effective and rebounding player was ex-center of Minsk-2006 and Kalev Shawn King, in 2012/13 season the best player in the same statistic indicators was Kervin Bristol, who played for Krasnye Krylia and Nizhny Novgorod, in 2013/14 season Astana ex-forward Ousman Krubally leaded the league in efficiency, rebounds and scoring, and n 2014/15 season Sasa Zagorac, former PARMA player was the most efficient and scoring player in the league.
Moreover, many young Russian athletes have played in Slovenian championship, such as Semen Shashkov (Primorska, 2015-16, Olimpija, 2016-17), Alexander Shashkov (Helios, 2017-18), Alexander Sinebabnov (Ilirija, 2018-19), Egor Sytnikov (Olimpija, 2018-20) and Stepan Gontar (Ilirija, 2018-19, Zlatorog, 2019-20).
Interesting fact
Slovenian leader in NBA seasons spent (13) and games played (831) Beno Undrih has played in Russia before the NBA. In 2003/04 season 21-years-old guard was playing for Avtodor. In July 2004 Udrih was selected with the 28th pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, in 2005 and 2007 he became NBA champion as Spurs player.
Slovenia National team
FIBA rank: 17
FIBA members: since 1992
Achievements: Eurobasket champions (2017)
Slovenia became FIBA member in 1992 and in its first official game they confidently beat Bulgaria – 83:54.
Slovenia has 13 participations in Eurobasket (50 wins – 38 losses) and 3 participations in Olympic Games (12 wins – 10 losses).
In 2013 Slovenia hosted the Eurobasket, the games took place in Ljubljana, Jesenice, Koper and Celje.
The main success of the National team is a sensational victory on Eurobasket-2017. On their path to the gold medals Slovenes won 9 of 9 games, beating Poland (90:81), Finland (81:78), Greece (78:72), Iceland (102:75), France (95:78), Ukraine (79:55), Latvia (103:97), Spain (92:72) and Serbia (93:85). Slovenian guard Goran Dragic won the tournament MVP award.
Nowadays Slovenia is ranked 17th by FIBA, 12th among European teams.
The most famous Slovenian players in history
Luka Doncic. 3rd pick of 2018 NBA Draft, Eurobasket champion, Euroleague champion and 3-time Spain champion. Doncic’s individual awards are Euroleague regular season MVP, Final Four MVP, 2 Euroleague Rising Star awards, Spanish championship MVP, 2 best young player of the Spanish championship awards and best Slovenian athlete of the year award. During first 2 NBA seasons Doncic managed to win Rookie of the year award and become an All-Star. In 2019/20 season Luka became the sixth best scorer in the League and 3rd in assists.
Goran Dragic. 45th pick of 2008 NBA Draft, Eurobasket champion and MVP, Slovenia champion and Slovenian Cup winner. In 2014 he won Most Impoved Player of the year award in the NBA, in 2018 became the first Slovene to participate in NBA All-Star. Goran is points (11374) and assists (3949) leader in the NBA among Slovenes.
Ivo Daneu. World champion, Olympic Games silver medalist, 2-time World Cup silver medalist and 3-time Eurobasket silver medalist as Yugoslavia National team player. In 1967 Daneu became World Cup MVP and athlete of the year in Yugoslavia. Moreover, Ivo, who spent his entire career in Olimpija is a 6-time Yugoslavia champion. In 1991 Daneu was included in FIBA top 50 greatest players of all-time, in 2007 entered FIBA Hall of fame, and in 2012 he became the member of Slovenian athletes’ Hall of fame.
Rasho Nesterovic. 17th pick of 1998 NBA Draft, Euroleague champion, Italy champion, 2-time Slovenia champion, Italy Cup winner and Greece Cup winner. In 2005 Slovenian center, who was playing for San-Antonio Spurs, became the NBA champion.
Matjaz Smodis. 3-time Euroleague champion, 6-time Russia champion, VTB United League champion, 2-time Italy champion and Slovenia champion. Moreover, Smodis became Croatia Cup MVP and Slovenian championship final MVP, Italian and Slovenian All-Star.
Dmitriy Kolinov
