Obradovic and Partizan begin preparation for new season: 'Everyone will get a chance' / News - Basketnews.com

Partizan gathered for its first training session, where head coach Zeljko Obradovic gave injury updates on the players and talked about the team's goals and challenges before the upcoming season.

Zeljko Obradovic and Partizan NIS Belgrade gathered for their first training session on Monday.

Obradovic began his media availability by giving injury updates on some players, emphasizing that most of the squad is already here.

"We are starting work. Today is the first practice, mostly everyone is here, a few players are missing," Mozzart Sport quotes Obradovic. "Aleksa [Avramovic] is with us, but he has an injury and cannot train."

"After playing for the Slovenian national team, [Gregor] Glas received treatment to heal the injury. We are, of course, in contact with him. Some boys play for national teams, [Yan] Madar for Israel and [Ioannis] Papapetrou for Greece. All the others are here. We will be in Belgrade for the first 15 days, after that, we will play friendly matches," Obradovic added.

The 62-year-old also said that at the moment, Partizan are not considering signing new players.

"There is nothing planned at the moment. We want to see how the players look. I have been in contact with them all summer, I know that many have been training, some have not even taken a break, and that is good.

We will see how they are doing. The season always answers all the questions. We will see how we prepare and approach an important season for us. After so many years, Partizan is in the EuroLeague, and there are, of course, ambitions in domestic competitions," Obradovic told the media.

Partizan returned to the EuroLeague by receiving a wildcard. So how the Serbian powerhouse could stay in the competition for more than 1 or 2 years?

"The ways are the same, nothing has changed," Obradovic revealed. "Does a place in the Top 8 guarantee a place in the EuroLeague next season? Some things are not crystallized yet, so we'll see. I think everything will be the same as before."

Obradovic also emphasized that every player will get an opportunity, and he won't be looking at players' ages or names.

"Last year, Partizan gave the most opportunities to young players in all of Europe. These players are absolutely equal in every sense. I don't care how old they are. They have to know how to play for Partizan and do their best.

Everyone will get a chance because the EuroLeague is extremely demanding. With our calendar, a roster of 14 players is the minimum. This will be clear to you when you look at the roster of the EuroLeague teams.

In January and February, we have 12 games, which is every second or third day. It is busy, and everyone will get a chance. It will depend on them how much they play," Partizan's head coach went on.

Obradovic also noted that getting used to the intense calendar will be one of the biggest challenges.

"The primary goal is to see what the team looks like in this [busy] period. To work on the things that will be necessary for us, considering we will play in the ABA League and the EuroLeague.

We will also have double rounds in the EuroLeague. We will try to work in that way and prepare the players for that. Our goal is to have the fans with us and give our best in every game," Obradovic concluded.

Partizan NIS Belgrade

Position Player Status PG Aleksa Avramovic Signed until 2023 PG Yam Madar Signed until 2024 SG Danilo Andjusic (story) Signed until 2024 SG Kevin Punter Signed until 2023 SG Gregor Glas Signed until 2024 SG/SF Dante Exum (story) Signed until 2024 SF James Nunnally (story) Signed until 2023 SF Uros Trifunovic Signed until 2024 SF/PF Ioannis Papapetrou (story) Signed until 2024 PF Zach LeDay Signed until 2023 C Balsa Koprivica Signed until 2024 C Alen Smailagic Signed until 2024 C Tristan Vukcevic Signed until 2024 C Mathias Lessort (story) Signed until 2023 Coach Zeljko Obradovic Expired contract Rodions Kurucs (will not return), Dallas Moore (will not return), Rade Zagorac (will not return), Nemanja Dangubic (will not return) Rumored to leave Interested Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.