Sasa Djordjevic reveals the biggest regret in his playing career / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbulhead coachSasa Djordjevicrecalled his biggest regret as a player,talking to Serbian outlet Zurnal.

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"I only regret what I didn't do," the 54-year-old tactician cleared up at the beginning, before going into more detail.

"I did not accept Zeljko Obradovic's invitation to come to Panathinaikos," Djordjevic revealed.

"I couldn't play anymore, I had a lot of injuries. I was physically and mentally down. I was 34 years old at the time, I finished the season at Real Madrid, and Zeljko invited me to Panathinaikos. We talked twice, I told him I couldn't do it anymore. He was trying to explain to me how he was going to use me."

Sasa Djordjevic was coming off a three-year stint with Madrid (1999-2002) at the time, while PAO were the reigning EuroLeague champs. The 1992 EuroLeague champion with Partizan Belgrade recalled that "it was so hard for me to say no because at that moment I didn't like basketball anymore. And I said that it would be hypocritical of me to just take that phenomenal contract.

I wasn't myself at that moment. I wasn't the Sale Djordjevic he wanted. At that moment, I didn't like basketball anymore, because of all the injuries that had happened to me."

However, Djordjevic knew he didn't want to finish basketball with that feeling. "I knew I had to come back. I love basketball. I shouldn't have allowed myself to just drop everything," he admits.

After ending his playing time at AX Armani Exchange Milan, he devoted himself to coaching.

"I was not sure that I would be engaged in coaching in the way, let's say, Zeljko immediately understood. I wanted to get to know another world, explore, and see what's out there. In the end, I wanted to test myself too.

When I watched games from the stands, I had no emotions, but that's why every time I went on the court, it kind of pulled me back. I realized that I needed to go right back to the court. So I did," Djordjevic explained.

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