Mijatovic talks new duty in Efes, special relationship with Ivkovic / News - Basketnews.com

Tomislav Mijatovic took over Anadolu Efes Istanbul at the beginning of February 2024, instantly showing his positive effect as a mainstay of the club.

Credit: Tolga Adanali via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali via Getty Images

Arriving at Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2010, Tomislav Mijatovic soon became one of the defining people behind the club, serving it since the day he first joined it.

3-pointers this season

36%9,5Points made:9,5Accuracy:35,8%Place in standings:10Record max:15Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Shane LarkinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The Croatian specialist recently had the chance to become the team's head coach after Efes management decided to part ways with Erdem Can, who had taken over the team at the end of Ergin Ataman's legendary third tenure.

"I received the smartest advice from all of them when they told me that you must not copy someone because then you are no longer yourself," Mijatovic said when asked by Meridian Sport about which Efes head coach he received the best advice from. It is a lengthy and qualified list, including names such as Velimir Perasovic, Dusan Ivkovic, Ergin Ataman, and Oktay Mahmuti.

"I had the privilege, and still do, of gathering knowledge that I may or may not use. But I don't copy them because they are too big [in] character, too serious trainers," explained Mijatovic. "And if I want to, I can't [copy them]. And I won't because the team will notice that it's not your opinion but someone else's. It's more important to create experiences, to see how the team reacts," he stated.

Mijatovic had a positive impact on the players indeed, as the team won 5 out of 6 games it played across all tournaments, particularly with two wins against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

"I told them bluntly, 'Guys, we're in this together.None of us expected to be in this situation.You help me so that we can all help the club and you together.To point in one direction,'" explained Mijatovic about the process of his takeover.

"Look, I've been with some of them [players] for six years, with some for five, with some a little less, but with all of them, I've created communication where they trust me on a human level. And that is 50 percent of the work," he continued.

"Then, every day, we move forward at a faster pace to see how they breathe, what is too much, what is too little. It's already the end of February; we can't make things up now. To be reactive and proactive, in order to get the most positive out of it."

Although he has worked with many extraordinary coaches during his time in Efes, one name that Mijatovic treats differently is that of one of the best coaches in Europe's history, Dusan Ivkovic.

"Today, I can't fully come to terms with the fact that we don't hear from each other every day... I had the privilege of being chosen by Ivkovic to be his friend.That is one of the biggest compliments of my life," said Mijatovic. "I hope that I have returned at least five, maybe three percent.

There is no money that could pay for that experience, those stories that cannot be described.Genius, basketball, and life.I have a hard time choosing words," stated Mijatovic with a lot of emotion. He worked with Ivkovic in Efes from 2014 to 2016.

In a lengthy career with the Turkish team, Mijatovic won the EuroLeague championship twice and made it to the Final Four in 2019.

Thank you for reading us! Help us even more.