SLO – Captain Lakovic

LJUBLJANA (2010 FIBA World Championship) - If there has been one certainty about Slovenia over the years, it’s been the presence of Jaka Lakovic.

The left-handed Lakovic, who has appeared in every EuroBasket since 2001, and played at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, is the starting point guard of the national team.

In Turkey at the FIBA World Championship, Lakovic, who turns 32 next month, will experience one of his greatest honors.

"As captain, I put Jaka Lakovic, who in the past years has been extremely loyal and present at all tournaments and has an exceptional competitive and human quality, so he deserves it,” Becirovic said.

Lakovic played for Barcelona this season and helped them capture the Supercopa, the Copa del Rey and the Euroleague.

The Catalans also finished in first place in the ACB regular season but after winning six straight play-off games, they went off the rails in a 3-0 finals sweep by Caja Laboral.

Becirovic would have liked for Barcelona big man Erazem Lorbek to play, and his brother Domen.

Both were instrumental in last year’s team that reached the Semi-Finals of the EuroBasket in Poland.

"There are some who I would like to see in the team, unfortunately, it is primarily due to fatigue or injuries that they will not play this year,” the coach said.

"Erazem Lorbek said that he needs some rest and is ready to participate next year, as well as Matjaz Smodis whose season was marked by the back injury and still does not feel able to appear. Domen Lorbek has some problems with the knees."

FIBA