Serbian NT 2024

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Olympic roster:

Aleksa Avramović

Vasilije Micić

Bogdan Bogdanović

Marko Gudurić

Vanja Marinković

Ognjen Dobrić

Nikola Jović

Dejan Davidovac

Filip Petrušev

Nikola Jokić

Nikola Milutinov

Uroš Plavšić

Pokusevski, Radanov, Jaramaz and Ristic didn't make the final cut.

This is the best we have at this moment.

Good luck!

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https://x.com/rreveriie20/status/1815474246614704319

Jokic fully engaged.

https://x.com/MozzartBet/status/1815443915178180636/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1815443915178180636&curre ntTweetUser=MozzartBet
Bogi LOL

https://x.com/KSSrbije/status/1815696754647388571/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1815696754647388571&curre ntTweetUser=KSSrbije

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img].jpg

28.7. vs USA 17:15h

31.7. vs Puerto Rico 17:15h

3.8. vs South Sudan 21h

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https://x.com/HarrisonWind/status/1818506097785028706

Jokic 100% focused. He is more vocal than ever before, giving on court instructions, planning tactics together with Kari Pesic

Jokic right now has the most points, rebounds, assists and steals in our team. Wonder where have I seen this before...oh yeah - Nuggets. LOL

We'll continue to improve, hopefully. The only aspect missing right now is outside shooting. That should come around when it matters most.

Good to see Micic heating up. Jovic is getting there, playing with more energy. Petrusev is exploiting Jokic's presence to the maximum, playing the role of Aaron Gordon.

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https://x.com/FIBA/status/1820834683623526660

LOL

https://x.com/FIBA/status/1820844072841433582

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https://x.com/pesic7/status/1822226880373674136

One and only - Svetislav Kari Pešić!

Let's give it one more run, Kari!

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https://x.com/KSSrbije/status/1822249500959772855/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1822249500959772855&currentTweetUser=KSSrbije

Kari's on fire!!! Hahahahahaha

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The summer of 2024 basketball is over. And it lived up to expectations. The last 2 games of our team were how Serbian basketball fandom envisioned this team would look like and what I have been preaching for couple of years. That's total basketball. Beautiful brand of basketball that makes teams to pick their poison. The game vs Australia and amazing comeback from -24 was the turning point of this team.

I would have a lot to say about referees in that game vs USA and how they pushed such a stacked team, but honestly I think we had that game in our hands even with such awful refs. We just missed some really open shots to seal that game. Nevertheless, It's a really good feeling that we had USA on the ropes and that they needed some side help to win this game. We played fantastic basketball and made them look clueless for majority of the game. Pesic was brilliant, as expected. He combined defense with zone, switch and hedging in the p&r. Totally confused them and dominated Kerr and company. It really feels like we won that game despite the loss in the end.

Then, the game vs Germany. It was questionable how they would react to such heartbreaking loss to USA, but Pesic once again showed why he is the GOAT. We played great, like that game vs USA never happened. Historically, we don't like to play for bronze but these are Olympics and motivation overcame negative feelings. They owed this medal to themselves and deserved it.

As for players, everyone delivered. Every single player.

I won't waste words on Jokic. If there was any doubt about his desire or fit with this team, it's gone with the wind. I have never seen him so emotional and focused. To simply put it - he dominated in every aspect. Bogdan is Bogdan. As expected, the captain dominated in every aspect, just like Jokic.

I have to praise Micic big time. He is not ideal fit with Jokic and Bogdan but he absolutely delivered and accepted the role Pesic planned for him. He stepped up big time vs Australia, hit some important shots vs USA and dominated vs Germany. His turnover rate was low, efficiency very good and passing game sharp. He made a strong impact in winning this medal.

When you see Guduric turning into defensive specialist and making winning plays on defense, then you know this is a great team. Guduric couldn't have ball in his hands in this team so he decided to make an impact on defensive end. Fantastic switch of mentality. He was great.

What can we say about Avramovic and Dobric. Oh, man. They are dogs (Marinkovic is also in this category, but wasn't as good as those two). They were fantastic on both ends, not just defense. Avramovic is a psycho on basketball court. After all, he deserved this https://x.com/FIBA/status/1822401104094650808

I have to mention Jovic, that injury proved to be too much for this tournament, but we have a big reserve in him. Jovic/Petrusev combo at PF and we don't have to worry about this position. Petrusev had very good tournament, played of off Jokic and showed high IQ. Versatile F/C.

Ideally, Pesic stays for Eurobasket 2025 and then we make a reset with new coach for the rest of Olympic cycle. It would be very important that Pesic stays because continuity with him should pay off at Eurobasket 2025.

As for players who could join NT for 2028 Olympics, this the list at this moment:

Topic, Djurisic, Drezgic, Vukcevic, Pokusevski, Smailagic, Kostic, Bosnjakovic, F. Jovic and there will be few players who will pop out under the radar as always. And I also think Jokic and Bogdanovic might show up in 2028 too. I can see Bogdanovic in the role of Rudy Fernandez and Jokic will still be in his prime. The crucial will be to have an elite player between Topic, Djurisic, Drezgic and Kostic. The way things are developing, there might be more than one

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https://x.com/SerbsInSports/status/1823063523255042401/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1823063523255042401&curre ntTweetUser=SerbsInSports

https://x.com/KSSrbije/status/1823097287523836378/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1823097287523836378&currentTweetUser=KSSrbije

Famous balcony, always bringing finest memories. That's what I call a crowd

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https://x.com/_anatc0/status/1823267242588422563/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1823267242588422563&currentTweetUser=_anatc0

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https://x.com/slothanova/status/1823219474075418813

Legends

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Two more games to wrap up this great year. Pesic called 15 players for the game vs Denmark.

- Stefan Jovic is back with NT as a captain for this window. Still playing at a high level and pretty much a lock as a stabilizing presence behind Micic and Avramovic for Eurobasket 2025. Great leadership and locker room presence. Avramovic and Jovic are more than enough to win in this window.

- Trio from Mega, Markovic-Jovic-Petrovic are all in. It helps a lot that Barac is Kari's assistant coach, so he will provide a lot of good insights about these youngsters. All of them are debuting for NT. Hopefully, we will get to see one or two of them with actual minutes vs Denmark. Andjusic is out with injury, there aren't many guards left, so Petrovic and his quickness might be needed, pairing him with Avramovic could work very well on offense. Would be fun to watch their slashing game.

- Borisa Simanic is again with NT after what happened to him in Manilla. Great move by Kari.

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Avramovic, Guduric and Petrusev are just an overkill for games like this.

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Such a joy watching this team. What a great chemistry, approach, seriousness (well, Kari Pesic is the coach ), the atmostpere in and around NT is fantastic.

We are officially qualified for Eurbasket 2025. Pesic already said that he will try out some other players and give big minutes to youngsters in February window. He already promoted Petrovic and Markovic in these two games, great times for Serbian basketball.

As for the game, all 12 players scored points. Enough said. Lundberg gave us troubles in the first quarter scoring 13 points, but then Kari Pesic adjusted and changed couple of defenders on him with Radanov completely shutting him down. Scored only 2 points in the next 30 minutes.

We can only ask for good health because everything else is settled for coming years.