Marjanovic: ''When you represent Serbia, you have to play with your heart and give everything on the court''

LOS ANGELES (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers are not even at the halfway point but Serbia center Boban Marjanovic is eager for his country to book its place for China 2019 in order to play in what he says will be a great event for world basketball.

As a member of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, Marjanovic did not play in the first two European Qualifiers windows but he has followed Serbia's campaign in Group G, where the 2014 World Cup runners-up are second with a 3-1 record.

"The roster is very different from the previous years but we have plenty of talented guys, a lot of options that can make the team so I know we can have a competitive team no matter what," said the 7ft 3in (2.21m) giant. "The group is very competitive, with Germany and Georgia, which both played at the last FIBA EuroBasket, and Austria, that hasn't won a game yet but lost by only one point against us."

Marjanovic knows what the country's goal is - to finish top of Group G.

"I am sure the guys want to finish in the first spot. The last two games against Georgia and Germany are going to be crucial," he warned. "If we win against Georgia (on June 29), the last game against Germany (at home on July 2) will be played like a final for the first spot."

If Germany are 5-0 going into that game and Serbia 4-1, the Serbs would need to win by six points to grab first place in the group after losing 79-74 in Germany in February. 

"WE CAN COMPETE AGAINST THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD, SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WELL. WE STILL HAVE  PLENTY OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE ARE PUTTING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER  FOR SERBIA TO BE AMONG THE TOP FOR A LONG TIME" MarjanovicMarjanovic

Marjanovic played for his country at last summer's FIBA EuroBasket - where Serbia came in second - and is hoping to suit up in the national team colors during the third window.

"If I have the possibility to play with my country this summer, I will do so for sure. Playing for Serbia is important and I love representing my country. So yes, every time I have the possibility to do so, I will do so," said the 29-year-old, who before EuroBasket 2017 had previously played for his country at the FIBA EuroBasket 2011. "I want to help the national team now and in the future, so it is one of my career's goals to wear Serbia's jersey for some more years."

Even though Serbia have finished second at Spain 2014, the Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament two years ago and EuroBasket 2017, Marjanovic insists the country can do better.

"We can compete against the best teams in the world, so we have been working well. We still have plenty of room for improvement and we are putting all the pieces together for Serbia to be among the top for a long time," Marjanovic said.

Marjanovic, who is averaging 5.5 points and 3.2 rebounds this season, says that playing for Serbia gives a player an extra push. 

"WHEN YOU REPRESENT SERBIA, YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH YOUR HEART AND GIVE EVERYTHING ON THE COURT. IT IS HUGE PRIDE TO WEAR THIS JERSEY AND WE ALL WANT TO MAKE OUR FELLOW COMPATRIOTS PROUD OF US" MarjanovicMarjanovic

"We keep improving and I am sure that good days are coming for the national team. We have the potential to do amazing things, and we will do better as we have the talent and the players to do so," he said. "The competition for the medals will be tough, but we want to be between the best teams of the tournament like we did in the last couple of years. When you represent Serbia, you have to play with your heart and give everything on the court. It is huge pride to wear this jersey and we all want to make our fellow compatriots proud of us."

Marjanovic gladly looked back on past success by the country.

"Serbia had a great run in the last World Cup and brought home a medal, which was great. I remember that tournament and how well my fellow compatriots were able to play at a very competitive level during that competition," he said. "I also remember some other moments from previous editions of the World Cup, like the one in 2002. It was a very interesting tournament with a lot of surprises. Yugoslavia won and I remember that a lot of people were very happy and proud of the achievement of the guys in this tournament." 

"THE FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2019 CAN BE A VERY COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT. THERE ARE MORE AND MORE TEAMS THAT  CAN REACH THE MEDAL SPOTS SO EVERY SURPRISE IS POSSIBLE. IT SHOULD BE A GREAT EVENT FOR WORLD BASKETBALL" MarjanovicMarjanovic

All that lends to the next World Cup to being something special, Marjanovic said.

"The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 can be a very competitive tournament. There are more and more teams that can reach the medals spots, so every surprise is possible. It should be a great event for world basketball," he said.

FIBA