Team Profile: Serbia, land of MVPs, in search of the land of gold

BELGRADE (Serbia) - It feels like a whole decade has passed since Serbia reached the Final at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. Coach Aleksandar Djordjevic is no longer around and in fact the tenure of his replacement, Igor Kokoskov, ended after the failed campaign to reach the Tokyo Olympics, opening the door to a comeback.

Enter, Svetislav Pesic. The legendary coach is looking to pull the same feat like he did 21 years ago, when he was appointed head coach of FR Yugoslavia. The nation, accustomed to winning medals at every single event, was disappointed with sixth place at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and handed the reins over to Pesic.

'Been there, done that' - Serbia hope coach Svetislav Pesic will replicate his 2001 feat this September

Pesic delivered, big time. Coach Kari picked up back-to-back gold medals at FIBA EuroBasket 2001 and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002. The best part about his work as a national team head coach? Management of big names and superstars.

Back in 2001, he found a way for Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Stojakovic, Marko Jaric, Predrag Drobnjak, Dejan Tomasevic and all the others to work as one. A year later, he also had Vlade Divac at his disposal, and now, he faces a similar challenge. Pesic will have to find a way of fitting all the MVPs of different competitions together, without adding a new rule of playing with two basketballs or the handball defense-offense substitutions.

Serbia are as loaded as ever, and as motivated as ever. The country still awaits its first solo gold medal, having picked up four silver medals since the breakup with Montenegro in 2006. The fact that a lot of players from this generation went through heartbreaking Finals in 2014, 2016 and 2017 will also be important. They've probably kept that burning feeling in their heads, ready to erase it from the top step of the podium in 2022.

With all due respect to other MVPs, having Nikola Jokic on board is the biggest news for Serbia. Jokic, who wore again the national team jersey this summer for the first time since FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, is an even better player now than three years ago. Since China, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice, putting up record-breaking numbers, becoming the first man with at least 2000 points, 1000 rebounds and 500 assists in a single season.

When you add Micic's clutch gene, the creativity of guys like Nemanja Bjelica, and team-first mentality of Nikola Kalinic and Marko Guduric, it's easy to see why Serbia are considered one of the biggest favorites to win the whole thing.

However, it's not all good news when it comes to Serbia. This generation will offer something completely new in terms of big events - for the first time in 10 years, as Bogdan Bogdanovic will not play for Serbia. He underwent minor knee surgery and should be back to full fitness in October.
 

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2021	Olympics	Tokyo (JPN)	Did not qualify
2019	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Beijing (CHN)	5th
2017	FIBA EuroBasket	Istanbul (TUR)	Silver
2016	Olympics	Rio de Janeiro (BRA)	Silver
2015	FIBA EuroBasket	Lille (FRA)	4th
2014	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Madrid (ESP)	Silver
2013	FIBA EuroBasket	Ljubljana (SLO)	7th
2012	Olympics	London (GBR)	Did not qualify
2011	FIBA EuroBasket	Kaunas (LTU)	8th
2010	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Istanbul (TUR)	4th

   

HOW DID  QUALIFY: FIBA EUROBASKET 2022 QUALIFIERS - 2nd IN GROUP E (4W - 2L)

DATE	GAME	RESULT
20/02/2020	Finland v Serbia	58-80
23/02/2020	Serbia v Georgia	90-94
28/11/2020	Switzerland v Serbia	92-90
30/11/2020	Serbia v Finland	75-66
19/02/2021	Georgia v Serbia	66-92
21/02/2021	Serbia v Switzerland	88-81

 

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