By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic passed away at the age of 78 in the early hours of Thursday and the basketball world united to bid farewell to one of the most influential coaches of all time.
This was proven once more, as Olympic gold medalist and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was among those who wanted to say goodbye to Duda Ivkovic.
Coach Popovich on the passing of Serbian basketball coach Dusan Ivkovic. pic.twitter.com/AYSlXn8bM5
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 16, 2021
Basketball organizations, players, coaches, and clubs reacted to the news, including Theo Papaloukas, a EuroLeague champion who played under him both in CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos.
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EuroLeague and FIBA also followed
The basketball world is in mourning following the passing of the legendary coach, Dusan Ivkovic ?
Enshrined into the #FIBAHallofFame in 2017, Duda was a giant in his profession who claimed title successes as a national team coach, and also while at the helm of numerous clubs.
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 16, 2021
Euroleague Basketball mourns the passing of Dusan Ivkovic
We send our deepest condolences his family and loved ones
A Euroleague Basketball Legend. Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/hR7VbNFL21
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) September 16, 2021
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dusan Ivkovic, a legend of our game. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and those players that were fortunate to be coached by Coach “Duda” ? pic.twitter.com/AZAQ6ypYLu
— EuroLeague Players Association (@the_ELPA) September 16, 2021
Rest in Peace, Duda! ?
The legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic has passed away at the age of 78. pic.twitter.com/B96FOFQsSa
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 16, 2021
Late Ivkovic counted numerous honors with the Yugoslavian and Serbian NT across his 46-year career. He has also won the EuroLeague title twice with Olympiacos, in 1997 and 2012.
Olympiacos bid its own goodbye to legendary Duda.
?? Καλό ταξίδι Θρυλικέ Ντούντα.
Rest in peace Dusan Ivkovic.#OlympiacosBChttps://t.co/bWvl8NjjPC— Olympiacos B.C. (@olympiacosbc) September 16, 2021
Former Olympiacos big and EuroLeague legend Kyle Hines wrote a heartfelt message for his coach:
Rest in Peace Coach Duda ?
Thank you for the opportunity you gave me on the basketball court.
But more importantly, thank you for the life lessons you gave me off the court.
We will all miss you legend ❤️
My prayers and condolences to your family ? pic.twitter.com/uMemXfu1v5
— Kyle Hines (@SirHines) September 16, 2021
Vassilis Spanoulis, who recently announced his retirement from professional basketball had his own message to send for Duda through his Instagram page:
“Ahh Duda. TEACHER, LEADER, LORD!!!
The words are very few in front of your greatness. Thank you for everything you taught me. For being my mentor and being always next to me.
You were basketball itself. I’m heartbroken.”
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Today, at the age of 77, one of the greatest coaches in the history of world basketball, Dusan Ivkovic, has passed away…
The Professional Basketball Club CSKA expresses sincere condolences to all the family and friends of Dusan Ivkovic. pic.twitter.com/goX4tkusER
— CSKA Moscow (@cskabasket) September 16, 2021
Ivkovic has coached CSKA between 2002 and 2005.
The teacher, the mentor, the great Dusan Ivkovic.
A huge basketball personality passed away this earlier today. The memories will stay with us for ever, together with his enormous contribution to the sport.
Fare well Duda… pic.twitter.com/SzGxThbj5G— PAOK BC (@PAOKbasketball) September 16, 2021
PAOK also sent out their own goodbye to their former coach.
Rano jutros, prestalo je da kuca srce velikog košarkaškog oca, čuvenog „Krstaša“, čoveka čije košarkaško nasleđe nije moguće opisati rečima.
Večerašnji duel protiv @AnadoluEfesSK počeće minutom ćutanja! #KKPartizan pic.twitter.com/Zrnh6clHyN
— KK Partizan NIS (@PartizanBC) September 16, 2021
Partizan will honor Ivkovic’s legacy with a moment of silence before their Thursday game against Anadolu Efes.
Panathinaikos, who faced Ivkovic numerous times as a rival, writes: “Panathinaikos OPAP bids farewell with deep sadness and emotion to one of the greatest personalities of European basketball, Dusan Ivkovic. We express our sincere condolences to the family of one of the top teachers of the sport.”
Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός ΟΠΑΠ αποχαιρετά με βαθιά θλίψη και συγκίνηση μία από τις μεγαλύτερες προσωπικότητες του ευρωπαϊκού μπάσκετ, τον Ντούσαν Ίβκοβιτς. Εκφράζουμε τα ειλικρινή μας συλλυπητήρια στην οικογένεια ενός εκ των κορυφαίων “δασκάλων” του αθλήματος. pic.twitter.com/fAZIrqYGFM
— Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) September 16, 2021
KK Crvena zvezda ovom prilikom izražava najdublje saučešće porodici Dušana Ivkovića.
Neka mu je večna slava i hvala!https://t.co/7fuMGTwnIT
— KK Crvena zvezda (@kkcrvenazvezda) September 16, 2021
One of the greatest coaches in the history of world basketball, ????? ???????, has passed away today…
AS Monaco Basket send deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
Rest In Peace. ?? pic.twitter.com/SzmNzRfI8M— AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) September 16, 2021
We are deeply saddened by the loss of the European basketball legend Dusan Ivkovic. We give our condolences to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/QVDAkJS6iL
— Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) September 16, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward and former player of Ivkovic, Furkan Korkmaz, as also his teammate in Anadolu Efes and also Ivkovic’s former player Cedi Osman paid their respect, like many other former players of Duda:
I am deeply saddened by the loss of European basketball legend Dušan Ivković. I have learned a lot from him both on and off the pitch. May his memories live up by with his name forever.
— Furkan Korkmaz (@FurkanKorkmaz) September 16, 2021
One of the best coaches in history of basketball. Truly an inspiration and teacher to me. Thank you for everything legend. I will keep you in my memories forever. #DusanIvkovic pic.twitter.com/46PGVnLQ9F
— Cedi Osman (@cediosman) September 16, 2021
İki sezon Anadolu Efes Başantrenörü görevini üstlenen, Avrupa basketbolunun efsane isimlerinden Dusan Ivkovic'in hayatını kaybettiğini büyük bir üzüntüyle öğrendik.
Ivkovic ailesine, arkadaşlarına ve sevenlerine en içten ve en derin taziyelerimizi iletiyoruz. pic.twitter.com/eNmyrMcPQs
— Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) September 16, 2021
Former player and Turkish basketball federation president Hidayet Turkoglu also added the following.
I’m deeply saddened by the loss of a basketball legend, Dusan Ivkovic. My condolences to his family and loved ones. #RIPIvkovic #Legend pic.twitter.com/RrQm873DwX
— Hidayet Türkoğlu (@hidoturkoglu15) September 16, 2021