Zeljko Obradovic names his biggest influence, explains why he rejects the NBA idea / News - Basketnews.com

In an interview with DAZN, Zeljko Obradovic explained why he chose not to make the leap to the NBA. He also referred to his mentor, Aza Nikolic, and Sergio Scariolo's achievements with Spain.

Credit: BOZIC/BETAPHOTO/SIPA - Scanpix Credit BOZIC/BETAPHOTO/SIPA - Scanpix

DAZN, the leading global sports streaming platform, offers a new installment of 'The Coaching Experience', the interview format in which coach Piti Hurtado sits down with the best coaches in Europe to talk about basketball.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade / Schedule

Zalgiris Kaunas Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade74-88 FC Bayern Munich Partizan Mozzart Bet BelgradeThu19:30

On this occasion, the protagonist is Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade play-caller.

Obradovic, who left his mark in Spain after winning the top continental title with Joventut Badalona in 1994 and Real Madrid the year after, is full of praise for Spanish basketball.

"Everyone says that the ACB league, after the EuroLeague, is the best competition in Europe. I think that because of that, Spain has recently achieved impressive results at the level of national teams," the 62-year-old tactician said.

"There is Sergio (Scariolo), who has done many things and you can only say 'chapeau' for everything he has achieved. And, on the other hand, when we talk about the national team, everyone wants to play for it.

Now you see Rudy (Fernandez), before that it was the Gasol brothers, or (Sergio) Llull. Everyone wants to play, despite the years or the injuries, and this is an example for everyone," he argued.

Credit DAZN

Obradovic, the winningest coach in European club competitions history with nine EuroLeague trophies in his resume, highlights the influence that another legend of the benches, Aleksandar 'Aza' Nikolic, had on his career.

"He was my teacher. He has taught me everything," Obradovic said of Nikolic who passed away in 2000.

"I had a special relationship with him, because after winning the 1978 World Championship in Manila, he became our coach (editor's note: at Borac Cacak, Obradovic's hometown team).

Talking to him, I changed my game philosophy. I knew that this could be something that interested me a lot, being a coach. I went to Belgrade university, where he was a professor and when he saw me in class, he told me: 'What are you doing here?' And I answered: 'I want to learn, because I think it's something very nice'.

Free throws this season

82%17,2Points made:17,2Accuracy:82,0%Place in standings:1Record max:27Record min:3Most made FTs:Dante ExumTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

We always had a very special relationship. When he was appointed coach of Partizan, I had no doubt that he wanted me to work with him, by his side. After winning everything in the first year, I had offers to leave Partizan, but I didn't want to leave for only one reason: because I wanted to work with him for another year.

And I think that was the best decision of my life," Obradovic reflected.

Throughout his career, Obradovic has trained some of the best youngsters in Europe, but he stresses that to succeed in elite basketball you need more than quality.

"Talent is nothing if you don't work. It only works if you understand that you have to work and improve every day," he maintains.

Despite his successful continental record, which includes titles with five different teams, Obradovic has never taken the step of coaching in the NBA. It's a story to which the legendary coach has referred several times, but one he repeated once again.

It was the story of a job interview with the Detroit Pistons in 2002, after he won the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos in Bologna. Obradovic looked the other way upon hearing the word 'interview'.

"There was never any concrete contact. There was a time when an NBA executive called me because a team wanted to do an interview with me," he recalled.

"And I told him: 'I'm giving interviews to journalists. If someone doesn't know who I am or what I can do, it's not serious.'

Maybe I was wrong, but I am the way I am, and I am very happy in Europe. Now I can't ask for anything more in life", the current Partizan coach uttered.

However, there's another fact that makes Obradovic believe he's better suited for Europe. It's court measurements being different on the two sides of the ocean.

"You have opinions from the best players in the NBA, which are three Europeans: (Giannis) Antetokounmpo, (Luka) Doncic and (Nikola) Jokic. They talk about this, it's much easier to score there than it is here because here, they don't let you play one on one and because of the rule of 3 seconds (on defense)", Obradovic said before summing it up.

"I like European basketball for this: you can prepare the game with much more detail than there. I don't have (NBA) experience either."

Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.