Svetislav Pesic: tough Zeljko's task, Madrid in trouble, and how Jokic changed the NBA / News - Basketnews.com

The last time Serbia won gold in an international competition was 20 years ago. As history shows, it was probably one of the unlikeliest titles. But Svetislav Pesic, who returned at the helm of the Serbia national team, did it his way.

Luka Doncic

Team:Dallas MavericksPosition:SGAge:23Height:201 cmWeight:99 kgBirth place:SloveniaProfileNewsStatistics

BasketNews interviewed the legendary coach in Belgrade, where he discussed Zeljko Obradovic's situation in Partizan, Barcelona's supremacy over Real Madrid, and how European stars Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are changing the NBA.

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Indianapolis, 2002.

Yugoslavia competes in the FIBA World Cup as reigning European champions.

But things don't go the way everyone expects.

In the first group phase, Spain defeats Yugoslavia 71-69 behind 22-year-old Pau Gasol's 25-point performance.

In the fourth game of the tournament, spectacular Daniel Santiago (31 PTS, 10 REB) and Puerto Rico upset Yugoslavia 85-83.

"I don't think I'm going to play again for the national team. It's not like I thought it was going to be," ESPN quoted Vlade Divac later in the tournament.

Vladimir Rodmanovic, the Seattle SuperSonics forward at that time, spent the second half of the game against New Zealand watching it from the stands. Per Marc Stein's report, he was thrown out of Yugoslavia's bench after the halftime spat with his coach, Svetislav Pesic.

As the former ESPN reporter wrote in his article, Radmanovic signed autographs on shirts and tickets in the media seats when his team was trying to erase a surprising 9-point first-half deficit. He later pulled out his mobile phone to take a call.

That was just one of many dramas during the 2002 World Cup in Indianapolis.

ESPN reported that after one of two defeats in the group stage, Pesic and his players had a harsh argument on their bus trip back to the hotel. According to the ESPN story, when the bus pulled to a red light, a security guard asked off the bus, unable to take any more noise.

Luka Doncic

MIN:35.6PTS:27.81 (52.32%)REB:9.15As:8.79ST:1.17BL:0.52TO:4.54GM:48ProfileNBA2021/2022

But as unlikely as it sounds, Yugoslavia, led by Predrag Stojakovic (18.8 PPG), Dejan Bodiroga (12.9 PPG), and Milan Gurovic (10.7 PPG), won the gold.

They beat team USA in the quarterfinals 81-78, despite Paul Pierce (19 PTS), Andre Miller (19 PTS), and Michael Finley's (12 PTS) effort.

They bounced back against New Zealand in the semifinals (89-78) and forced Argentina to surrender in the gold medal game (84-77) when Manu Ginobili couldn't play more than 12 minutes due to injury.

Just like the title of his recently published book "My Game, My Way", Svetislav Pesic did it in his way.

"To talk about this title after 20 years is not difficult now," Pesic said in an interview with BasketNews. "But even in EuroBasket 2001, we knew that in the 2002 FIBA World Cup we'll play big teams such as Argentina, and, especially, the USA."

"From the first day, all of our focus and preparation for the World Cup was focused on the USA," he explained. "You know that the main philosophy of our basketball, Serbian basketball, and my basketball, was the transition game. But if you want to play transition basketball against the USA... You're dead. It's too difficult."

"But to change it to strong defense and the strict offense was against the characteristics of Yugoslavian players. So they had to learn during the preparation and during the World Cup how to hold the ball as long as possible. It was difficult to change it, and it also brought disappointment," Pesic admitted. "There were games we lost. In the beginning, we didn't play well. But at the right time, we showed our quality."

"You said difficulties. But every game against Team USA is difficult," Pesic smiled. "Every final in the World Cup is always difficult as well."

"Argentina National Team was one of the best teams in the world too. I don't know who was better at that time (USA or Argentina). Two years later, they won the Olympic gold in Athens."

In January,Dejan Bodirogaand Vlade Divac, who spoke about chemistry issues in Yugoslavia NT in Indianapolis, joined Pesic in his official book presentation.

Pesic was always a demanding coach, but players respected the quality he always brought into the game.

Among two Spanish League championships, five German titles, three Copa del Rey, and two German Cups, Pesic is also the EuroLeague, Korac Cup, and FIBA EuroCup champion.

His book "My Game, My Way" is expected to be available for English readers this fall.

Pesic, 72, sat down to talk with BasketNews shortly before the FIBA World Cup Qualifying games vs. Slovakia.

Coach, I want to put you into Zeljko Obradovic's shoes. What do you think, what main difficulties does he have to overcome to reach the big goals?This is difficult because of the fans and big expectations. Because Partizan is Partizan and Zeljko is Zeljko.

Fans and media always expect titles immediately. But to achieve big results always requires a process. And there's a big difference between the two best Serbian teams right now.

Crvena Zvezda have continuity within the coaching staff, management, and roster. Also, they're more experienced, and you could see that in the Serbian Cup, it made a difference.

Basketball fans always have big expectations. But to produce big results and build a big team, the most important thing is to be patient - both for the club and the players.

Zeljko is a very experienced coach with great knowledge. He has everything that describes a big coach. But even 2-3 months ago, I said that they need continuity, time, and daily work.

I'm sure Partizan will play much better next season. They will control their destiny much better than right now.

They must learn all together from the experiences like the Radivoje Korac Cup final.

When you returned to Barcelona, you brought back two Copa del Rey titles in 2018 and 2019. When Sarunas Jasikevicius replaced you, he also brought Barcelona back on the top of the ACB.

Barcelona under coach Jasikevicius won the last 10 of 13 El Clasico's. Would you agree that a new era with Barcelona's dominance started in Spain? And do you believe this group with Saras can also bring back EuroLeague titles?I think Barca has everything to continue winning the titles. Even now, they're ready to win the ACB or the EuroLeague.

But you all know how difficult it is to win the EuroLeague. This is a very long way to go. But with the potential and everything else they have at the moment, I think they're ready.

It's always a big question if they will use this opportunity because there are a lot of other good teams.

Madrid has big problems. Last year they lost 5-6 important players. Campazzo or Deck left Real in the middle of the season.

They also had injury problems and lost very important players, such as Anthony Randolph or Trey Thompkins.

They could still play, but this is not an easy job for Pablo (Laso) when you face Barcelona, Efes, or Milan.

Now they're under construction. They have some very interesting young players, like Abalde. Deck is also back, and he's improving.

They also have veterans like Llull, Rudy. They should slowly find a new identity.

There's no question about their potential. But they also have to be in very good physical shape to win against such a very ambitious team like Barcelona.

Barcelona look fresh and very motivated. They have Sarunas Jasikevicius, who is a coach that fights every day. Enthusiasm was always his first quality.

And he brings that enthusiasm and energy to his team. He's not tired, and he wants to win. And this is what is very important for the team's atmosphere.

Madrid is tired, and Barca is fresh. Mentally, physically, tactically, Barca have a big advantage at the moment. But the season is very long, and we still have many games to play.

I know that you're not the biggest fan of the NBA. But what do you think, how the NBA helped Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, and how it changed them?I'm a fan of European basketball... But NBA basketball is always in my mind.

I think NBA didn't change Jokic and Doncic.

Of course, you change every day. You're practicing every day there, and you have to adapt to different rules, different basketball.

But I think they changed the NBA with their creativity, basketball vision. They play different basketball than most Americans or NBA players.

Characteristics of big players don't change. They're the same as before. Like the best players, they bring some new things every season, like new shots, dribbling, technical or tactical things.

Jokic is becoming a better NBA player every year. And it's not based only on his statistics, but his game as well.

Every year he brings something new and surprises not only opponents but himself. This is an ability of a big player.

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