By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
It’s one of the biggest “What Ifs” in the post-1990 history of European Basketball. A looming question that has teased the brains of basketball scholars, coaches, journalists, and fans.
How would Yugoslavia fare in international competitions if not for the country’s breakup back in the early 90s? What form and shape would such a team possess? And how would its roster be compiled when picking from an enormous pool of sensational basketball talents?
What would a EuroBasket 2017 Yugoslavian national team look like?
The ingredients are all of gourmet-quality and if we stirred them in a pot we’d probably create a dish that looks deliciously unbeatable. At least on paper.
(I take this moment to confess that I might be a little biased on this since I already considered a fully manned Serbia the indisputable favorite for the gold in the EuroBasket).
The list excludes, of course, the many absent players of Serbia (Milos Teodosic, Nemanja Bjelica, Marko Simonovic, Stefan Markovic, Nikola Jokic, Nikola Kalinic, Nemanja Nedovic) and Croatia (Ante Zizic, Ivica Zubac, Mario Hezonja) that could potentially own a spot in this glittering squad.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)
Goran Dragic – Slovenia
Team record: 5-0
Tournament Stats: 24.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per game.
Remember that episode 4 in the latest Game of Thrones season? Where Drogon makes a flambe out of Lannister army with sheer flesh-melting force?
That’s a pretty accurate picture of Goran Dragic’s actions in the EuroBasket so far where Slovenians closed the first round with a perfect 5-0 record.
Small wonder. It’s the “Dragon’s” last tourney with his country’s national team and he wants to go out with a serious bang. His performances so far have been nothing less than a powerful statement of his burning desire to lead Slovenia to the podium for the first time ever.
The Miami Heat guard entered the tournament setting a new international career-high and has been virtually unstoppable ever since. The real test is at hand of course with the knockout phase starting tomorrow.
Bogdan Bogdanovic – Serbia
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 19.8 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game.
In light of Milos Teodosic’s absence, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been unofficially christened as the leader of the “crippled” from injuries, yet ever ambitious “Orlovi”. His teammates approve and Sasa Djordjevic now gives him complete power over the Serbian offense’s traffic control where he serves both as a prime scorer and main facilitator.
It’s a more than challenging task since, despite its many-many problems, Serbia is bound to aim for a medal. Then again, Bogdan has never been shy of responsibilities and undertaking seemingly “mission impossible” operations, has been the fuel that feeds his engine.
Although the new Kings player has suffered enormous pressure from opposing defenses that are fixed on cutting him off the rest of his team, he’s shown time and again that he has the mettle and resilience to overcome and prevail. A similar characteristic with all Yugo legends of old.
Stefan Jovic – Serbia
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stars: 6.6 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds per game.
Following a struggling, final stretch of the season that found him recovering from a back injury, playing in this EuroBasket tournament is like taking a dive to a healing fountain for Stefan Jovic.
Not only in the physical sense but also in regards to receiving a psychological boost for the season ahead. Back to doing what he’s been famous for, Jovic has often been a playmaking tour-de-force for Serbia, drilling keyholes in seemingly unlockable defenses, multiplying his team’s transition opportunities and dictating the rhythm in a way that suits his squad.
He has the purest “floor general” attributes from anyone in our list and that’s what his role would be when on the court for the All-Yugoslavian team.
Luka Doncic – Slovenia
Team record: 5-0
Tournament Stats: 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3 assists in 28.6 minutes per game.
An 18-year-old registering team-high playing time in a EuroBasket medal contender squad. As an infamous gang leader said once upon a time: “Can you dig it?”
This development can’t come exactly as a shock to someone who has seen him contributing big at the highest level outside of the NBA during the previous season but is still goddamn impressive.
Luka continues to draw the spotlight’s attention, even though he mostly carries a complementary role next to Dragic, throwing bits and pieces of basketball savvy that would make a veteran blush.
Who’s to say he wouldn’t act as a protagonist even in an almighty Yugo group.
Klemen Prepelic – Slovenia
Team record: 5-0
Tournament Stats: 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 25 minutes per game.
Quite possibly the “revelation” in this Slovenian team, Prepelic is the one who comes off the bench and often recharges his squad’s batteries with ample amounts of energy on both ends, dangerous shooting and a touch of the unpredictable that can confuse opposing defenses.
Every team needs this kind of guy.
Bojan Bogdanovic – Croatia
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 21.4 points, 5 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per game.
Even though Bojan has yet to unleash the full lethality of his game he has managed to record the above numbers almost effortlessly since he takes only 11 shots per game (56.4 percent from the field). And no, they are not much for one of the EuroBasket’s arch-scorers.
That’s an attribute that would also come greatly in handy in a star-laden Yugoslavian outfit, packed with dudes who are born with the mark of the leader. In such a team where almost anyone can also pass the ball, Bojan would just need to always be on the move with the certainty that his teammates can always find him in order to strike.
Krunoslav Simon – Croatia
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 5.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists in 22.2 minutes per game.
While a potentially dangerous scorer “Kruno” is someone who will take care of business in other areas of the game. It comes naturally to him and he’s already shown that in this version of the Croatian national team.
In an outfit that is without a fixed playmaker, a focal, ever-flowing source of assists, Simon looks after his teammates, thanks with his difficult to predict, tricky passes. Also, he will put himself in the right spot to catch a rebound and then run a quick transition offense, an area where Croatia thrives upon.
He’s a complete “glue-guy” for Croatia who could also put together various bits and pieces in a EuroBasket Yugoslavian team.
Dario Saric (Croatia)
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 31.8 minutes per game.
His confidence booming following his rookie NBA year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Dario Saric is about to take it to the next level also with the Croatian national team. There’s no other player to whom coach Aco Petrovic has given more responsibilities and Dario excels in every single one of them.
He will handle the ball like a guard, shoot it with the comfort of a perimeter assassin, create looks for his teammates like a crafty floor-general, penetrate like a slasher, rebound, and defend as a rim protector.
A beacon of versatility who carries the blood of all that is holy and precious in Yugoslavian basketball and would have a leading role even in this collective team.
Milan Macvan (Serbia)
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 24.6 minutes per game.
What he obviously lacks in athleticism, carries it double in offensive skillset and quality and so far he has done a fine job for Serbia in the tournament.
A “do-it-all” power forward (or center in more flexible squads) who can bury it from every range with a keen eye for passing the ball as well and timely positioning to give a hand with “board control”, Macvan is the potential hidden weapon in this Yugo gathering.
Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
Team record: 3-2
Tournament Stats: 14.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 24.1 minutes per game
Not only has Montenegro moved past the Preliminary round to the knockout stage for the first time ever but also managed to finish third in Group C with three wins. It’s quite the accomplishment and history will tell that it took place with Nikola Vucevic leading the charge.
Using his ever-expanding offensive arsenal (hooray for mid-range jumpers) and rebounding skills, “Vuc” produced team-highs in scoring and boards during the two victories (vs Hungary and the Czech Republic) that locked Montenegro’s spot in Istanbul.
Boban Marjanovic (Serbia)
Team record: 4-1
Tournament Stats: 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.
In his last summer tournament back in EuroBasket 2011, he was just a really-really big guy coming off the bench with minimum input for his team. Now, the “Gentle Giant” of Serbia offers an extremely unfriendly experience to everyone who faces him on the floor.
Marjanovic’s presence enables the great “Plan B” of the “Orlovi”, which is summarized to “When nothing else works, pass the ball to Boban”. It’s as potent as it is simple since when the Pistons big guy catches it inside the paint, he will lay it to the hoop, often with intimidatingly ridiculous ease.
What elevates him as truly special though is not simply his sheer, imposing dominance. It’s that you are never sure of what he’ll do with the ball. He functions smart and unpredictable and that’s what makes him ultra dangerous.
Bojan Dubljevic (Montenegro)
Team record: 3-2
Tournament Stats: 11.2 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists per game
Say hello to the “unofficial” stretch 5″ of our imaginary Yugoslavians team. Well, at least something very close to it, since Dubljevic’s ability to knock down 3-pointers provides an extra unsolvable riddle to opposing head coaches, apart from his low post menace.
“Dubi” has been more than solid in the Montenegrin’s team successful run (see above) often playing alongside Vucevic when he spends most of his time on the perimeter, ready to pull of jumpers or give that first crucial pass to spread his opponents’ defense. He can be a space-maker extraordinaire and deserves a spot in among Yugo-stars.