Svetislav Pesic favors different EuroLeague format, sets alarm on Serbian basketball / News - Basketnews.com

Svetislav Pesic evaluated his 2-year stint with Serbian NT, provided an evaluation of Serbian players' progress with their clubs, and named the changes he'd like to see in the EuroLeague. The veteran coach also weighed in on Dubai obtaining a license.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Serbia saw off 2023 with a silver medal won at the FIBA World Cup in Manila. Now, the challenge of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris lies ahead for coachSvetislav Pesic,who restored the squad to its old glory days.

"We finished the process in these two years with satisfaction. There were blows coming from everywhere. I know that basketball runs in the veins of every Serb and that's why expectations are always high," the veteran coach told Nikola Stojkovic of Mozzartsport.

Pesic, 74, however, thinks that the future of Serbian basketball isn't so bright, even though the sport enjoys enormous popularity in the country.

"Not only because of the 20,000 fans who come to Zvezda and Partizan," he explained. "The influence of the NBA and our players who are there increases the interest in Serbia and the fans in basketball."

Credit FIBA

So, what's the problem?

"This is the end of this Olympic cycle, and I don't see a plan for the next one in any sport. Well, that's something we're missing, and if we don't organize ourselves better in that area, not only will there be no medals, but we will not be able to qualify for major competitions," Pesic warned.

The tactician was asked whether players accumulate fatigue from playing all year long, both for their clubs and their national teams. Some argue that summer tournaments take a heavy toll on players' rest and that has been the cause of several injuries during the season.

"Experts who deal with regeneration, and not with training players, look for excuses in the national team if a player doesn't play well in his club or doesn't reach his form. They say, 'He was with the national team, so he's tired.'

That's not true. All of them are professionals and all those who don't play for the national team, train over the summer," Pesic claimed and pointed out that all players who joined the national team improved.

"So those stories about fatigue are absolutely not true. Those are not the reasons. The reasons are different for every player. They are almost not the same for any of them," he added.

In the NBA, Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanović are having excellent seasons, while Nikola Jovic has recently started to get a chance. On the other hand, Vasilije Micic and Aleksej Pokusevski are struggling, while Filip Petrusev has returned to Europe.

Pesic provided an evaluation for every player on Serbia's roster.

"Jovic plays a little, but now he is getting more and more opportunities.

Aleksej had problems with injuries, he is in the process and is expected to start playing.

Vasa chose an organization where there is huge competition in his position. He's facing a new role in his career. He's going back a little bit to the beginning of his career, but thank God, sometimes that can be an extra motivation to be better. I know he's persistent and he'll overcome all these obstacles.

I think the same for Jovic on the other side. I would like them to play a little more", the coach paused for a moment, then continued:

"Luckily for Petrusev and for the team, the NT has now fully accepted him. Not only as a player, but also as a person. He was always a bit shy, and somewhat withdrawn, but now he has opened up through the World Cup, and he is missing minutes."

Pesic went on to comment on the roles other Serbian players have on their respective clubs.

He said that Uros Trifunovic "was in fantastic shape, understood what Zeljko [Obradovic] wanted from him and accepted it," Ognjen Dobric "came to a new club [Virtus] where the coach changed immediately," Stefan Jovic "went to a good club and it's fantastic for his career that he keeps playing in the EuroLeague," Nikola Milutinov "had injuries, one after another, and now he is slowly coming back," while Dejan Davidovac "can and must do much better" at Zvezda.

A few days ago, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, spoke about the need to create a unified calendar in European basketball. Pesic thinks the project is long overdue and that FIBA and the EuroLeague should work things out as soon as possible.

"We have been waiting for 10 years. These are the two institutions that should take responsibility when it comes to basketball. The first progress is visible, because in the week when the qualifiers are played, the EuroLeague will not be played and we expect that most of the Euroleague players will appear in the national team," he said.

Pesic thinks "players are created in the national leagues and that is why the EuroLeague must understand that the power and importance of the national leagues should be increased and that international competitions should not limit the development of domestic competitions, to establish a pyramid-like system like the one in the US."

Credit Michael Schwartz/dpa

The Serbian coach also believes that Europe should take a look at the NBA, both in terms of structure and as a product. But the most important example comes from football and the competition system that UEFA has established. The Champions League includes a far smaller number of games compared to the EuroLeague - and that's to Pesic's liking.

"I really think that in Europe we don't need this kind of EuroLeague competition system with 18 clubs, where 34 rounds are played and now the Play-In has been introduced," he stressed. "Every time the number of games increases, the space for national leagues decreases."

Hence, Pesic suggests that the number of games in the EuroLeague be reduced and the number of teams is increased. It's the format that existed until 2016 that the seasoned play-caller favors.

"Everything was at a high level, there was great interest and good business, I'm not in favor of drastically reducing the number of games, but of looking at the interest of the players and the competition, because now I don't agree with what the media and coaches say - that the EuroLeague is stronger than ever before."

Pesic explained that the excess of games immerses audiences into the rhythm of the NBA, even though here there is a system with 18 clubs striving to win every outing.

"Such a large number of games in the national leagues and the Euroleague does not allow players to develop because there's no time," he repeated.

"European basketball cannot live and develop without players. Now everyone will say, 'Yes, but we need games for business purposes.' True, but in the long run the most important thing for a good business is still quality. And the quality is down.

If there is no quality, you won't be able to offer the product to sponsors or fans. That's why I responsibly say that the power of the national leagues must be retained and that international competitions should be designed in such a way that the number of games is reduced."

Pesic thinks that the EuroLeague has the possibility to receive several more clubs.

"Then I am in favor of merging the FIBA ​​Champions League and the EuroCup into one," he said.

"I think Bodiroga and Zagklis are going in that direction so that the next competition is joint. And I think that's good."

Regarding the imminent expansion, Pesic has no doubt that Dubai is entitled to requestan invitation or a 'wild card'.

"They passed the first test in terms of the financial conditions requested by the EuroLeague. This means nothing because they must also meet the other criteria when it comes to management, ticketing, the hall, and providing guarantees which the EuroLeague is looking for," he commented.

Overall, Pesic fathoms that the EuroLeague should focus on Asia for future cooperation.

"If all Israeli teams can play in European competitions, why can't some teams from Asia play as well?" he wondered.

"Dubai wants to enter that project, it is their sporting interest, but at the same time and even more important is to open the possibility for the formation of a professional League of Asia through Dubai where the clubs could develop further. There are basketball traditions in many countries, but there is no quality like in Europe.

Without financial support, it is difficult to do something, and, obviously, there is already a financial base there that can push the Asian League," Pesic concluded.

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