Marjanovic aims to be with Serbia at FIBA EuroBasket 2017

DETROIT (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - It doesn't take a genius to identify the qualities of Boban Marjanovic that make him an appealing addition to Serbia's national team at FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

At 2.22m in height, the Detroit Pistons pivot is going to score more times than not if he catches the ball close to the basket. He is going to be difficult to go up against when he's playing defense.

Though he isn't playing much in Detroit this season following his move from San Antonio, Marjanovic says he has improved since his move across the Atlantic. 

"I have been getting better on being focused and better at reading the plays," he said. "You can work on every aspect of your game, like your shooting or your passing but in order to reach your best potential and learn more, you have to stay focused and always try to learn."

Marjanovic says he learned a lot about the NBA and how to play the center position by keeping tabs on players when he was growing up.

"I watched a lot of games that Vlade Divac played," he said. "He was a reference for a lot of the kids in Serbia. The way he played was inspirational and I learned a lot from his game. I also liked Arvydas Sabonis as he was very tall and such a great player, and also Tim Duncan. Those were the three players that I tried to learn from the most."

Marjanovic and Duncan were teammates last season in San Antonio.

"I've been working with so many great coaches and amazing teammates and I feel that I have been improving a lot in the last couple of years," Marjanovic said. "Things are going in a very good way; I am really enjoying the experience."

Part of that experience has been meeting the game's legends, like Michael Jordan. He met 'His Airness', the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, several months ago when the Pistons visited the Queen City.

While there is no guarantee that Marjanovic will make the final roster, he does want to play for a side has joined the elite in international basketball the past few years.

In 2014, Serbia went on a sensational run to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final in Spain.

The following year, Djordjevic's team finished finished fourth at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and that allowed them to compete in one of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTS).

Success in the Belgrade OQT put the national team into the Olympics for the first time as Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro had competed at the 2004 Summer Games and before that, the former Yugoslavia has made it to numerous Olympics.

If Marjanovic does play for Serbia, he'll suit up alongside the revelation of Serbian basketball the past couple of years, Denver Nuggets power forward Nikola Jokic.

He was the MVP of the OQT and also a standout at the Olympics. Marjanovic says Jokic is just scratching the surface of his potential.

"I played with him in the same team a couple of years ago and even if he was very young, he was already showing some very good skills on the court," Marjanovic said.

"He had some very solid seasons before coming to the NBA and he is a very smart player, so I am not really surprised with the level he has been playing at this year so far. He is still pretty young and has a lot of room for improvement."

You can’t think about being superior or having a game won before playing in this kind of competition (FIBA EuroBasket 2017), or you are going to have some tough times.Boban MarjanovicBoban Marjanovic

Serbia will go up against Great Britain, Latvia, Russia, Belgium and Turkey in Group D at the EuroBasket in Istanbul. There will be, Marjanovic says, no pushovers.

"It's a tough group," Marjanovic said. "All of those teams can play really good basketball like most of the teams in Europe right now.

"You can’t think about being superior or having a game won before playing it in this kind of competition, or you are going to have some tough times.

"Playing in Turkey is great as it is a great country of basketball and the fans are very enthusiastic. Serbia (Yugoslavia) won the EuroBasket in Turkey in 2001; I hope we have the same luck this summer! I still remember watching this competition on TV; it was a great performance."

As an independent country, Serbia have not reached the top of the podium of a major event. While there will be some outstanding teams at the EuroBasket, Marjanovic says the aim is to make history.

"Of course it is a goal," he said. "We want to keep improving and keep having high standards, so winning a gold medal is the goal for sure."

FIBA