Svetislav Pesic on Vasilije Micic: 'It's unbelievable that he won't win EuroLeague MVP' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: D.Lukšta/ ZUMAPRESS.com-Scanpix Credit D.Lukšta/ ZUMAPRESS.com-Scanpix

Vasilije Micic was not included in the All-EuroLeague First Team, provoking a strong reaction from Svetislav Pesic.

Free throws this season

82%13,3Points made:13,3Accuracy:82,1%Place in standings:6Record max:28Record min:3Most made FTs:Vasilije MicicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

As EuroLeague Basketball announced, this season's lineup is made up of Sasha Vezenkov, Mike James, Nikola Mirotic, Shane Larkin and Edy Tavares. On the other hand, Micic was included in the All-EuroLeague Second Team, along with Vladimir Lucic, Shavon Shields, Kostas Sloukas and Giorgos Papagiannis.

Serbian national team head coach Svetislav Pesic said he was surprised to see Anadolu Efes Istanbul's point guard not make the competition's first team.

"Micic is EuroLeague's first scorer, even though he is a playmaker. It's weird... Is it possible not to be in the best five? Nothing can surprise you in the EuroLeague," Pesic said in an interview with Telegraf.

"How is it possible that the top scorer and last year's MVP is not selected in the First Team?" Pesic wondered.

"He was the one who kept Efes afloat in the games against AX Armani Exchange Milan, with the help of his teammates of course. It's unbelievable that he won't be the MVP," the experienced coach continued.

"I thought there was a mistake. I don't understand this choice, with all due respect. Practically, he was the one who carried Efes to the Final Four, the best without any exaggeration," he concluded.

Micic, who won this season's Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy award, led the EuroLeague in scoring in both the regular season (18.1 ppg.) and the playoffs (18.5 ppg.). He scored 20 or more points in exactly half of his 32 appearances this season and also finished sixth in assists (4.6 apg.) and seventh in average performance index rating (17.5 per game).

Micic ranked seventh in three-pointers made (2.1 per game) and was also second on his team with 1.2 steals per game. During the season, the Serb was MVP of the Round three times, which was tied for most in the league. This has been the third consecutive All-EuroLeague Team selection for Micic, who was a Second Team member in 2018-19 and on the First Team last season when he was named EuroLeague MVP.

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