Obradovic on FIBA-EuroLeague conflict: 'The players pay the price' / News - Basketnews.com

Zeljko Obradovic admitted the issues players and teams face in the midst of the FIBA and EuroLeague conflict but did not want to use it as an excuse for the loss against Olympiacos.

Credit: Cibona/Marin Susic Credit Cibona/Marin Susic

Zeljko Obradovic's Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade arrived in Greece to face Olympiacos Piraeus with just 9 players on the roster.

With several key members of the team being sidelined due to injuries, the task was heavy to begin with. Then, two more players were called up for the Serbian national team, leaving Obradovic with a very limited selection of players.

"I don't want to use the thing that is between FIBA and EuroLeague for the way we played tonight. If you are without one or two players, it's very difficult. Tonight I was without six," the coach started the press conference.

"These two guys, Glas and Jovanovic, they had never played in the EuroLeague until now. Tristan played some minutes, so I was here with only six players but I don't want to use that," the veteran specialist told. "The way we started the game and the way we finished the game was very bad."

Danilo Andjusic and Uros Trifunovic are currently with the Serbian national team. Meanwhile, Aleksa Avramovic, Alen Smailagic, Dante Exum, and Balsa Koprivica are currently injured.

"This problem that exists between FIBA and EuroLeague is not something that only exists now. It's years and years. Now everybody talks that one day they need to sit down and talk," Obradovic continued. "My national team Serbia has a very important game. They asked us to give them three players, one was injured after the last game versus Panathinaikos, and two said yes. We promised them and this is how it is, and I don't have any kind of rejection for this."

The legendary coach admitted that the problem international basketball currently faces is obvious to anyone who is interested in the game of basketball.

"It is bad that national teams play without their best players. This is obvious, everybody understands this," he said. "Everybody. Ask any one person who likes basketball, everybody will say the same. Who needs to sit? They need to sit down and discuss this?"

"The only ones that pay the price are the players. It's more difficult for them than for any other person," Obradovic explained.

The veteran specialist was later asked about the recent report ofVladimir Brodziansky possibly arriving at the club.

"Until somebody signs the contract, I don't know anything," the Serbian coach said. "I was trying to do my job as usual. Unfortunately, it was a very bad game."

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