Miskovic wants first podium for Serbian 1999-born generation

BELGRADE (FIBA U18 European Championship 2017) - Serbia have a long tradition of winners - including many players taking home medals from multiple youth continental and world competitions. Serbia's 1999-born generation has yet to reach an international podium. Nikola Miskovic is out to change that at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017.

Serbia come off their worst year in youth national team competitions in 2016 with two 10th-placed finishes and an 11th-place showing, and the goal is clear for Miskovic and his team in Slovak Republic from 29 July to 6 August.

"I will try my best to lead my 1999 generation to our first medal," Miskovic said.

Miskovic and four other 1999-born players were on the Serbian team that finished 10th at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 - the country's worst U18 showing in history.

Nikola Miskovic will not want to remember the result from the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016.

"That is behind us," Miskovic insists, looking ahead to Bratislava and Piestany, where Serbia will take on Italy, Spain and Ukraine in Group B. "It's a bit of pressure to represent a country that is always hungry for the result, but we think that we are good enough to handle it."

It is common for players to play up or play with older generations. And some of the 1999-born players have done so. But none have yet grabbed a top-three spot in a tournament.

This will be the second continental tournament for the 1999 generation, which finished eighth at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015. Miskovic was injured and could not play in Lithuania, where Serbia lost in the Quarter-Finals to Turkey and then lost to Finland and Germany, missing out on qualifying for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016.

After missing the U16 tournament in 2015, Miskovic was looking forward to finally playing for Serbia last year at the U18 level.

"I was very excited to play my first youth European Championship. We were hoping for the podium. Unfortunately we couldn't reach the Quarter-Finals," said Miskovic, who averaged 3.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals.

When asked what he learned from the disappointment in Samsun, the 6ft 8in (2.04m) forward said: "That every game is important in a youth European Championship."

Miskovic, who was born in Torun, Poland, grew up looking up to Allen Iverson for his quickness and ability to score on everybody. He also saw the late stages of the career of his father Dejan Miskovic, who played many years around Europe. 

"It helps because he doesn't let me make the same mistakes he made in his career," Nikola said of how his father helps him in his game.

Listening to the advice of his father, Miskovic has excelled on the court at Mega Bemax Belgrade and now he is ready to help Serbia restore some of the missing winning tradition.

"I think that we are experienced, and I think that we know what we need to do to proceed to the final," Miskovic said. "We must have a good team chemistry. Our national team has won medals in the past because they have a great team chemistry."

Serbian fans are definitely ready for their team to get back to the podium - or at least for a first time for Miskovic and the rest of the 1999 generation.

FIBA