Filip Petrusev is turning into a key piece for Crvena Zvezda / News - Basketnews.com

After a difficult season with Anadolu Efes, Filip Petrusev shines with Crvena Zvezda. The level of his performances in the last 7 games has been nothing short of impressive, and coach Dusko Ivanovic is turning him into a complete player.

Credit: Valencia Basket/Miguel Angel Polo Credit Valencia Basket/Miguel Angel Polo

For Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, this has definitely been a season full of emotions and surprises.

Filip Petrusev

Team:Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradePosition:CAge:22Height:211 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:Belgrade, SerbiaProfileNewsStatistics

The reigning champions of the ABA League terribly started their EuroLeague season, winning only 2 of their first 8 games in the competition.

The management decided enough was enough, and they parted ways with the young head coach Vladimir Jovanovic.

To change the pace of their season, Crvena Zvezda decided to bring in the experienced Dusko Ivanovic as the new head coach.

Another huge change was the addition of Argentinian guard Luca Vildoza, who joined the team on a multi-year deal after the end of his brief experience in the NBA.

After Ivanovic's arrival, the Serbian club won six games in a row, turning around their EuroLeague season and increasing their chances of securing a playoff spot.

They didn't stop there, though, because the Serbian club also decided to make another huge splash on the market, signing former Real Madrid point guard Facundo Campazzo.

Unfortunately, the signing of Campazzo arrived when EuroLeague was already investigating the club for financial violations. In the end, EuroLeague decided to impose a ban on Crvena Zvezda, forcing Crvena Zvezda to register newcomers only after February 28th.

As you can see, even though we're only in January and there's a big chunk of the second half of the season left to be played, Crvena Zvezda went already through an emotional rollercoaster.

The in-season additions of Luca Vildoza and Facundo Campazzo attracted the majority of the interest surrounding the club, but there's another player who's shining in a particular way, and he's definitely helping the team in fighting for a playoff spot: Filip Petrusev.

Filip Petrusev

MIN:21.54PTS:11.1 (65.13%)REB:4.9As:0.65ST:0.4BL:0.8TO:1.35GM:20ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

The Serbian big man joined Crvena Zvezda last summer after leaving Anadolu Efes. Petrusev won the EuroLeague title in Turkey, but his role inside coach Ataman's rotations was basically non-existent.

After showing flashes of his offensive talent in the first few EuroLeague games with Efes, his role with the club started to diminish more and more. Ataman didn't trust the defensive abilities of Petrusev, who definitely struggled in adapting to EuroLeague basketball.

Especially during the second part of the season, Petrusev disappeared from the Euroleague rotations and was primarily used in the Turkish league. Crvena Zvezda already showed interest last season in the player and tried to bring him back to Serbia during the season, but the first attempt was unsuccessful.

However, all the elements were there in the summer to make a deal happen. Petrusev wanted a new experience and was ready to leave Efes, while Crvena Zvezda were looking to bolster their frontcourt with an intriguing domestic player.

After a slow start, like the majority of the team, Petrusev began to shine more and more, especially after the arrival of coach Dusko Ivanovic. The Serbian big man definitely had a chip on his shoulder after the difficult season in Turkey, and his growth has been clear.

So far, Petrusev averages 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 37.5% from 3-point. Compared to last season, it has been a completely different story.

Petrusev averaged 5.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in his entire season with Anadolu Efes in EuroLeague. We're midway through the season, and the Serbian big man has already scored more points than in the entire past season and grabbed more rebounds.

But from Round 14, Petrusev has really made an amazing leap forward, and his performances have become a must-watch show.

Considering his numbers in the last 7 games, the Serbian national team member is averaging 19.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 73% from the field.

During this great stretch of games, Petrusev also won his first MVP award, becoming the best player of Round 17 thanks to his 25 points and 9 rebounds performance against Valencia.

There are a couple of factors to consider in Petrusev's recent growth. First of all, coach Ivanovic is usually really good at improving the performances of his big men, so the spike in Petrusev's performances shouldn't be that surprising after all.

The former Baskonia head coach can be really hard and requires the maximum level of effort from his players, especially in practice. However, if everyone is on the same page, good things usually happen, and that has definitely been the case for Crvena Zvezda.

Ivanovic is probably the perfect coach for Petrusev at this stage of his career, and the results are paying off.

The other main consideration concerns Petrusev's attitude on the court. This season, the Serbian big man looks much more aggressive and intense than the previous one.

His level of intensity on the court is much higher, and this leads to more opportunities. Probably, returning to his home country was a smart move for Petrusev.

Playing for Crvena Zvezda also means less pressure. Not because the Serbian team is not an ambitious club but mostly because last season's version of Efes was all about winning the second EuroLeague title in a row. For a rookie at the EuroLeague level like Petrusev was, it wasn't necessarily the best environment to develop.

Petrusev has always been a very talented player offensively: he has good athleticism, a nice touch around the rim, and can shoot the ball well from 3-point too. He needed time to work on his defensive game and to adjust to the different type of physicality that EuroLeague basketball requires.

The past few weeks show that the Serbian big man is figuring out the necessary moves to improve and become a rising star in the competition.

Last summer, Petrusev was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 50th pick overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Since then, the Gonzaga alumn decided to sign only one-year contracts in Europe to check on his NBA chances every summer.

The next one won't be different, Petrusev's ultimate goal is to play in the NBA, and his entourage remains in touch with the 76ers.

With the team constantly trying to fight for an NBA title and little room available financially, Petrusev could become an interesting option for the Sixers as a backup for Joel Embiid, considering how much turnover they had in that role in the last few years.

Daryl Morey, the president of basketball operations for the Sixers and a lover of International basketball, will definitely keep an eye on him.

Meanwhile, Petrusev is showing everyone that the lack of playing time with Anadolu Efes was just a temporary issue and that his talent hasn't gone anywhere.

While Facundo Campazzo patiently waits to contribute to Crvena Zvezda in EuroLeague, the Serbian team can count on the performances of Petrusev, who, week by week, is becoming a key piece of this team.

Thriving Filip Petrusev explains what has impacted his huge turnaround this season. Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.