Future of Serbian NT

[Serbian_Layup]

Another great game for Markovic and Petrovic, this time against Zvezda in a narrow loss.

Markovic is a serious prospect. Really consistent and efficient. His efficiency and decision making are so advanced for his age. Picking his spots, doing everything what is needed, rebounding, shooting, passing, leading transition. There is a lot to like about his game. I remember Jovic a few years ago in his first season with Mega wasn't nearly as consistent and stable as Markovic. His statline - 14p/9.3r/3a per game on 58/44.4/88 shooting splits and 22.3 average index rating. Awesome statline without forcing anything, just playing the right way. Another potential gem of Serbian basketball school, future is bright for this kid.

I'm loving more and more what I see from Petrovic each game. A little bit undersized, but a great slasher, ability to break defense and change speed and rhythm of the game really pop out with every game. On top of that, he's got great touch around basket, shoots floaters on high efficiency which enables him to beat athletic big men in the paint. He has skills and craftiness, and I would be very surprised if Kari Pesic doesn't invite him for November games. I can see him making our NT roster down the line, and it might be rather sooner than later. November games are great opportunity to introduce a few new young talents to our NT and make a great investment for future.

https://x.com/ABA_League/status/1855594340430528998

[Straight forward]

I'm not familiar with these 2 dudes yet, but, on other hand, who are true next gems of Serbia after Bogi and Jokic? I mean in the lottery you have Topic and that's it. Jovic development this season is not very visible yet, probably he turns out to be borderline star at best in NBA. Djurisic is not playing right? I doubt he has star's upside. Topic is the best prospect of yours at the moment I think, but he's injured and his development ATM is questionable. I mean with all the crazy depth Serbia has when it comes to prospects, you may be lacking top 10 NBA pick material. I know where Jokic was drafted, sure But still a food for thought.

[Serbian_Layup]

I'm not familiar with these 2 dudes yet, but, on other hand, who are true next gems of Serbia after Bogi and Jokic? I mean in the lottery you have Topic and that's it. Jovic development this season is not very visible yet, probably he turns out to be borderline star at best in NBA. Djurisic is not playing right? I doubt he has star's upside. Topic is the best prospect of yours at the moment I think, but he's injured and his development ATM is questionable. I mean with all the crazy depth Serbia has when it comes to prospects, you may be lacking top 10 NBA pick material. I know where Jokic was drafted, sure But still a food for thought.

I'm not really busting my head whether we have or don't have lottery talents. We have been winning medals and actually won everything in our history without always having top 10 talents. Why is that becoming so important to win medals? Maybe for some other countries, but not for Serbia. The most important factors are basketball culture, recognizable basketball school, good coaches and specific type of players, that kind of aura that former Yugoslav players had and that Serbian players are carrying with them. You can call it a special feel for the game. We have all of that, traditionally and historically. Players like Jokic and Bogdanovic don't grow on trees, so you can't always expect to have that kind of players, but I'm pretty certain that Serbian basketball, given the reasons I mentioned above, will always be relevant and full of talents.

Some of big prospects will fail, but some others will come out of nowhere and shine. Who is going to be a star, expectedly or unexpectedly, I'm not worried about that, I just know it's going to happen. Our history taught me that. We had Darko Milicic to fail only for Nikola Jokic to rise, almost out of nowhere as a compensation for Milicic. One way or another, we will keep producing big time players. It's in our DNA.

Right now, if I have to mention some young players with potential to be important for NT, those would be: Topic, N. Jovic, Djurisic, Poku, Kostic, Markovic, Drezgic, Vukcevic, F. Jovic, Bosnjakovic, Karalic, Bjelic, Danilovic, Radosic, Stankovic, Kusturica, Bikic, Backo, Dimitrijevic...Take your pick and guess

[Straight forward]

I'm not really busting my head whether we have or don't have lottery talents. We have been winning medals and actually won everything in our history without always having top 10 talents. Why is that becoming so important to win medals? Maybe for some other countries, but not for Serbia. The most important factors are basketball culture, recognizable basketball school, good coaches and specific type of players, that kind of aura that former Yugoslav players had and that Serbian players are carrying with them. You can call it a special feel for the game. We have all of that, traditionally and historically. Players like Jokic and Bogdanovic don't grow on trees, so you can't always expect to have that kind of players, but I'm pretty certain that Serbian basketball, given the reasons I mentioned above, will always be relevant and full of talents.

Some of big prospects will fail, but some others will come out of nowhere and shine. Who is going to be a star, expectedly or unexpectedly, I'm not worried about that, I just know it's going to happen. Our history taught me that. We had Darko Milicic to fail only for Nikola Jokic to rise, almost out of nowhere as a compensation for Milicic. One way or another, we will keep producing big time players. It's in our DNA.

Right now, if I have to mention some young players with potential to be important for NT, those would be: Topic, N. Jovic, Djurisic, Poku, Kostic, Markovic, Drezgic, Vukcevic, F. Jovic, Bosnjakovic, Karalic, Bjelic, Danilovic, Radosic, Stankovic, Kusturica, Bikic, Backo, Dimitrijevic...Take your pick and guess

All that is true, but at the same time it's a threat whenever you really will have such level players as Bogi, Jokic. Everything lower might not be beneficial with today's FIBA. I don't even think Serbia would necessary role with Teo kind of key player today. FIBA changed and the need to top notch (NBA solid level players) players are more visible now, IMO. Maybe Serbia and some other teams will prove wrong though. I wouldn't be completely chilled about it. Once Lithuania was carried by players as Kalnietis, Maciulis essentially in the mid 10's, but it's not possible today. Off course, Serbia is not the country which should be concerned a lot, but still there's a chance you won't have a player who can give you +22 and do everything on the court to lift you to the next level. Traditionally Serbia's world class players were not selected at top 10, but today's Euro scouting reached completely different level. Any evident talent and he will be exposed at maximum. It's shown well now how much Traore, Jakucionis, Russian dude are monitored.

A bunch of solid or good role NBA players (Jovic, Djurisic, Vukcevic) and Topic as potential true lead guard on NBA level (star potential). That's how I see it now.

[Serbian_Layup]

All that is true, but at the same time it's a threat whenever you really will have such level players as Bogi, Jokic. Everything lower might not be beneficial with today's FIBA. I don't even think Serbia would necessary role with Teo kind of key player today. FIBA changed and the need to top notch (NBA solid level players) players are more visible now, IMO. Maybe Serbia and some other teams will prove wrong though. I wouldn't be completely chilled about it. Once Lithuania was carried by players as Kalnietis, Maciulis essentially in the mid 10's, but it's not possible today. Off course, Serbia is not the country which should be concerned a lot, but still there's a chance you won't have a player who can give you +22 and do everything on the court to lift you to the next level. Traditionally Serbia's world class players were not selected at top 10, but today's Euro scouting reached completely different level. Any evident talent and he will be exposed at maximum. It's shown well now how much Traore, Jakucionis, Russian dude are monitored.

A bunch of solid or good role NBA players (Jovic, Djurisic, Vukcevic) and Topic as potential true lead guard on NBA level (star potential). That's how I see it now.

FIBA basketball talent is deep and getting deeper with each decade, that's for sure. However, it's precisely all those past decades that give me a reason to be relaxed when it comes to production of big time players when it comes to Serbian basketball school. Take any decade you want starting from 60's and I will write a list of world class players that carried our team. There literally hasn't been one decade without such players. That's why I say some other countries should worry about growing FIBA competition.

Let me tell you this, if I were Lithuanian I would trade 80% of your current roster for high character players like Kalnietis or Maciulis. I would even trade Sabonis for prime Kalnietis and Maciulis. Character and feel for the game still matter a lot and you don't have to be an NBA all star to have those traits. You lack those kind of players and that's why you have been struggling, not only due to lack of talent.

I wouldn't have anything against to have a bunch of good NBA role players. It's way too early to know how they will project in NBA and FIBA basketball. For example, Bogdan is a solid NBA player, but a superstar in FIBA basketball.

[Serbian_Layup]

Solid Euroleague debut for Bosnjakovic. Obradovic immediately assigned him to guard Punter. Great energy, high character, mobility, something in the mold of Lucic/Kalinic type of player. Great material for NT in coming years.

[Serbian_Layup]

Bosnjakovic can easily play around 10 min per game in Euroleague already. Partizan's season in Euroleague is pretty much over, so investing in this kid would be a very good idea.

https://x.com/EuroLeague/status/1857510474109051350

Poku is getting better and improving in all aspects.

[Serbian_Layup]

Kostic with another excellent shooting game. Possibly a great shooter in the making.

https://x.com/draftpoint2024/status/1857841644004893158

Mihailo Petrovic with another strong game and double-double 10p, 11ass. I'm surprised how good his passing game is, he has a really interesting combination of slashing/driving ability and court vision. I really love his game and think he can compete for a spot in NT roster at some point. On top of that, finishing at the rim is really good with nice touch from various angles. The most dominant aspect of his game is ability to break the first line of defense with tremendous quickness and change of speed. Only 21. His breakout season.

Not one game can pass by without Jovic doing something like this:

https://x.com/ABA_League/status/1857867393336488079

He is a machine around basket, finishing everything. Ideal partner for a good p&r point guard. I expect Jovic and Petrovic to develop a real two man game this season.

Kondic demonstarting his athleticism:

https://x.com/ABA_League/status/1857854997850890736

[Serbian_Layup]

https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1858589116205527325

Todorovic is playing for Pepperdine, he's been lurking for couple of years in college basketball but seems to have found his spot at Pepperdine. Very nice shooter.

[Serbian_Layup]

https://x.com/draftpoint2024/status/1862536303251718526

Scored 29 in 20 minutes earlier today, now 30 in another 20 minutes. He has been labeled as one of the best prospects in his generation, but these kind of performances will shed lights on his name in international scouting. A big G/F with great knack for scoring.

https://x.com/Scoutspects/status/1862541967827050767

[Serbian_Layup]

https://x.com/draftpoint2024/status/1862913463716102157

Kostic will make a big noise once he starts to fill out his frame and mature physically. When that happens his potential as a scorer will be scary. This season is very encouraging and reminds a lot of Topic's season in KLS before coming to ABA league. Kostic is a big talent with an even bigger room for improvement which makes his upside really high.

[Serbian_Layup]

https://x.com/draftpoint2024/status/1863263630302523886

We will be watching Srzentic in Mega jersey in ABA league soon enough. What I like about him a lot is that he has a really nice mid range game and crafty finishing around the rim. Also, very surprised with his playmaking and passing vision. Plus, there is a great positional size, especially if he continues to play at guard position.