Last season, Partizan won the hearts of basketball fans all across the Europe. This time, the EuroLeague will be a big challenge.
After a multi-year hiatus in which the black and white team were not participants in the most elite European competition, the first step towards returning to the top was marked by a return to the place where it all began. Zeljko Obradovic took the reins on the bench of the Belgrade giant and instantly became the catalyst for everything that followed in the last two seasons.
Upon his arrival in Belgrade, the most decorated European coach of all time hinted that he faced a long and challenging journey to achieve the set objectives in the future. However, in the competitive year that followed, we got the impression that these goals are somehow being achieved faster than expected. The appetites and expectations of the fans add additional pressure, but this isn’t something the coaching virtuoso isn’t used to in his illustrious career.
“A dream…”
After the conclusion of the previous season, Partizan’s fans had mixed feelings. The ABA league was won for the first time after 10 years, making the season considered more than successful. However, there was significant regret for the missed opportunity in the EuroLeague quarter-finals. The elimination by Real Madrid after two consecutive breaks in the Spanish capital is surely on the minds of all the players, but it also serves as additional motivation for what lies ahead in the European competition in the coming period.
A crucial task for Partizan over the summer was to retain the two pillars of this project, and they succeeded. Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay signed new two-year contracts, while PJ Dozier and Frank Kaminsky are expected to fill the void left by the tandem of Dante Exum and Mathias Lessort. The progress shown by Alen Smailagic and Aleksa Avramovic is also significant, and both are expected to play even more notable roles than last season when they made their “debut” only in December due to injuries. Ognjen Jaramaz has returned after two years in Bayern, and Mateusz Ponitka has also made his way to Belgrade.
Partizan has been transparent about their aim this season: to reach the EuroLeague Final Four. When you have a coaching figure like Zeljko Obradovic on the bench, thinking otherwise would be unambitious. The coaching wizard is entering the third year of the project with his beloved club and hopes for another step forward. Last year, the black and whites broke numerous records regarding offensive rating, and now the task is to be significantly better on the defensive end from the start, compared to 12 months ago. If that’s achieved, Partizan can aim for a spot on the table that ensures home-court advantage in the quarter-finals from the very beginning.
EuroLeague Preview – Partizan: Roster for the upcoming season
Aleksa Avramovic /192cm/ – SRB
Ognjen Jaramaz /193cm/ – SRB
Kevin Punter /193cm – USA
Danilo Andjusic /195cm/ – SRB
P.J. Dozier /198cm/ – USA
Mateusz Ponitka /198cm/- POL
Uroš Trifunovic /200cm/ – SRB
James Nunnally /201cm/ – USA
Zach LeDay /202cm/ – USA
Alen Smailagic /208cm/ – SRB
Tristan Vukčevic /209cm/ – GRE
Frank Kaminsky /213cm/ – USA
Balsa Koprivica /215cm/ – SRB
Departures: Yam Madar, Dante Exum, Mathias Lessort, Ioannis Papapetrou
Arrivals: P.J. Dozier, Frank Kaminsky, Mateusz Ponitka, Ognjen Jaramaz
Spanish novela: The center of attention during the transfer window was undoubtedly Nikola Mirotic. According to information confirmed by the black and white management, he reached a verbal agreement with Zeljko Obradovic, but the signature was ultimately missing.
In addition to him, Yam Madar was also a significant part of the saga. His departure was unplanned, and the player decided to terminate his contract with Partizan and sign for Fenerbahce. The entire situation remained entirely unresolved, and as a result, the black and whites decided to terminate their collaboration with the manager Misko Raznatovic.
EuroLeague – Partizan: Greatest Success in the EuroLeague
Interestingly, when it comes to Partizan’s first significant success on the EuroLeague scene, Zeljko Obradovic was part of it, but in 1988 he was one of the more experienced players on the team. The Black and Whites qualified for the first Final Four in history, eventually finishing as the third-best team in Europe. They were defeated by Maccabi in the semifinals, but managed to overcome Aris to clinch the significant result.
History was written in 1992 when Zeljko Obradovic took over as the head coach, having previously been the team captain. A young and talented duo, Aleksandar Djordjevic and Predrag Danilovic, led the team to a EuroLeague title. Due to the civil war unfolding in Yugoslavia, Partizan played its home games in the suburb of Madrid, Fuenlabrada.
The “Istanbul Night” when the black and white team became immortal marked Partizan’s history. Besides the fact that they played their EuroLeague home games on Spanish soil, it’s worth noting that the aforementioned duo didn’t communicate during the quest for the European trophy. However, it didn’t go unnoticed that after Djordjevic’s three-pointer in the final seconds for the title against Joventut in the final, it was Danilovic who first ran into the arms of the hero. As they like to say, the rest is history.
Six years after winning the title, Partizan once again made it to the EuroLeague Final Four in 1998, held in Barcelona. They finished fourth after losses to Benetton and Virtus. A return to the Final Four wasn’t realized until the 2009/2010 season. Partizan managed to make their way to Paris for the Final Four, with the semi-final match against Olympiacos, a game they lost in overtime, being the highlight. They also lost the game for the third place against CSKA.
The Period When Partizan Upset the Plans of European Giants
In the two consecutive seasons before heading to Paris, they reached the EuroLeague quarterfinals but were halted there. A long wait ensued before Partizan found themselves in a similar situation, which came in the previous season. The quarterfinal series against Real Madrid not only captured the attention of Europe but also the world. Specifically, these were the first EuroLeague matches broadcasted on national television in the United States.
The players certainly lived up to the expectations as the series went to a decisive fifth game to determine who would advance to the Final Four. Besides the brilliant basketball showcased, the Partizan and Real Madrid duel also brought to light some of the darker aspects of the sport. One moment that will undoubtedly be remembered was the unsportsmanlike conduct of Guerschon Yabusele, who employed an MMA-style move on Dante Exum.
A few words about the head coach – Zeljko Obradovic
“I’ve been waiting for you to fulfill a long-held dream…” – are the lyrics of a song with which Partizan fans marked the return of Zeljko Obradovic to the club he has special emotions for.
The most decorated European coach of all time, Zeljko Obradovic. When you read such a statement, it seems almost redundant to detail every individual success achieved by this Serbian coach from Cacak. While he was still playing basketball, he earned the nickname “ZOC – Zeljko Obradovic Chopper”.
The name was given to him by those who observed his daily training sessions next to the Morava River. It’s now a well-known fact that everyone hailing from Cacak possesses a talent for outstanding shooting abilities.
“When I won the EuroLeague with Partizan, I remember how I felt. I thought I would never experience that again in my career,” Zeljko Obradovic said many years after the historic trophy.
To his delight, that wasn’t the only time. He managed to lead a team to the EuroLeague title a total of nine times as a coach. Apart from Partizan, four other clubs reached the top of Europe with him at the helm. Joventut, Real Madrid, and Fenerbahce once, and Panathinaikos on as many as five occasions.
Considering all his trophies combined, Zeljko Obradovic has reached a total of 43. Knowing his mentality, incredible motivation, and dedication to his profession, he won’t stop there.
EuroLeague Preview – Partizan: Expectations
After the “rise of the empire” with the arrival of Obradovic and all that has been seen in the last two seasons, especially focusing on the events of the past competition year, it’s clear that the expectations are higher than ever.
Winning the ABA League title after a ten-year hiatus remains a priority. However, during the transfer window, the club’s management announced their desire to surpass the results achieved in the EuroLeague last season. Given that Partizan “slipped” in the quarterfinals, the next step would be the Final Four.
If their intentions are matched by their performances on the court, especially during the final phase of the prestigious competition, where only one game and 40 minutes decide everything, then anything is possible. All those who hold the black-and-white colors close to their hearts secretly hope for the realization of that “long-held dream.” Coach Obradovic and his players are not hiding their ambition to achieve just that.