Vladimir Micov tells a story about Dusko Ivanovic's grueling methods / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Buducnost VOLI Podgorica; Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Buducnost VOLI Podgorica; Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Although currently not part of any team, Dusko Ivanovic is one of the most famous coaches in the EuroLeague. A two-time tournament winner as a player, he is known as a strict specialist with iron discipline as a coach.

Now retired, Vladimir Micov was a part of the Ivanovic-coached Caja Laboral team during the 2009-10 season where he got to experience all the stories of the old-fashioned coach firsthand.

"As soon as I arrived, they told me that we were doing mini-preparations. Just easy in the lobby of the hotel. However, it was a five-kilometer sprint run, then a two-hour training session in the gym, and then an afternoon workout in the same gym. I was falling from fatigue, hard work," Micov told during the Jao Mile podcast.

"He asked me if I had trained, if I was ready. It was a mess," he continued. "I'm working on the first day, I don't know all the plays. Immediately at the first mistake he starts yelling, but all in Spanish. I don't understand anything he's saying to me. Fortunately, I had Mirza Teletovic to translate since Dusko held all the training sessions only in Spanish."

The 2009-10 season was the only one Micov spent with Ivanovic. The player averaged 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds for 6.9 PIR that year.

"Suicide runs for everyone," Micov remembered the Dusko Ivanovic years in Vitoria-Gasteiz. "Whoever yawns, runs, whoever is a minute late or drinks water for too long, or wipes his sneakers... everyone ran for him and everyone fell from fatigue."

Caja Laboral went on to have a pretty successful EuroLeague season, reaching the quarterfinal stage where they lost to CSKA Moscow.

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