One of the countries having great tradition in European and world basketball is Serbia. Responsible for revealing historical talents and developing the sport on the continent, the country was part of the former Yugoslavia, a powerhouse in terms of intercontinental championships, being five times world champion and one-time Olympic champion.
Currently, the Serbian team occupies the 5th place in the FIBA ranking, was also runner-up in the previous world championship and in the last Olympics, in addition to having six active players in the NBA.
All this tradition and commitment to educating people through sport in the country generates a strong team and all the exceptional Serbian players we know today. Here are some of the names that dominated their leagues this past season:
Nikola Jokić - NBA MVP
Stats: 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists;
Team: Denver Nuggets (United States);
Rank placement: Eliminated in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Considered by many to be the best center in the league for a few seasons, the “Joker” is one of the most unique MVPs in the NBA, whether for his unexpected rise, drafted only in 48th position, or for his disruptive playing style for his position . Despite the early fall of the Nuggets in the playoffs, the team is one of the youngest and has a very promising future.
Miloš Teodosić - EuroCup MVP
Stats: 15.4 points, 6.9 assists;
Team: Virtus Segafredo Bologna (Italy);
Rank placement: 4th place and undefeated in the regular season.
The Clippers veteran is one of the most strategic and cerebral players in European history. Selected as part of the team of the Euroleague decade, the point guard now acts coming off the bench and yet he was a key player in the Italian team's 10-0 regular season campaign in the EuroCup, being one of the most efficient and crucial players to the success of his team.
Filip Petrusev - MVP of the ABA League
Stats: 23.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks;
Team: KK Mega Basket (Serbia);
Rank placement: 6th place.
Expected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old who has been at Montverde Academy Gonzaga University is already a star. The 6.9-feet player stood out for playing as a “modern center” and without a doubt, is among the best European prospects.
Vasilije Micić - Regular Season MVP and Euroleague Final Four
Stats: 17.6 points, 4.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds;
Team: Anadolu Efes (Turkey);
Rank placement: 1st place.
Standing out this year for leading the Turkish team to the first Euroleague title in history facing off the strong Barcelona team at the finals.
Selected to play in the NBA in 2015 and today with his rights belonging to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The player turned down the renewal with the current club and an offer from Real Madrid, which indicates that he is set to play in the NBA next season.
The Tokyo Olympics start in approximately a month from now and the Serbia national team is strong and will definitely fight for the championship they missed in the final of Rio 2016 against the United States national team.