Svetislav Pesic comments if he is open to bring foreigner to Serbian NT / News - Basketnews.com

Svetislav Pesic says that there is no need for foreign players in the current Serbian national team setup.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Following the announcement of the extended Serbian NT roster, head coach Svetislav Pesic was asked about the possibility of inviting foreigners to the squad since more and more national teams use a naturalization opportunity given by FIBA.

Pesic clarified his stance by stating that, for the time being, there is no immediate need for foreigners in the positions where they are typically recruited.

The 73-year-old also emphasized that while he remains the coach, he does not foresee foreign players being added to the Serbian national team.

"Currently, we don't find ourselves in a position where we require foreign players in the team, as they traditionally hold specific positions. However, I do believe that someday it may happen that the Serbian national team will include foreigners, but certainly not during my tenure as the coach," Pesic underlined, via Mozzart Sport. "I have no problem with a foreigner in the national team if he meets certain criteria and fulfills the conditions.

"It's important to remember that many countries in our area already have foreigners as part of their national teams, with some even having traded five or six players," he continued. "Even some of the best teams, like Spain, have foreigners. Basketball is a global sport, anything can happen, but the foreigner we need hasn't appeared yet."

Kevin Punter has been the most-discussed name among the Serbian public since Partizan's scoring ace has Serbian citizenship.

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