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.
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.
EuroLeague and FIBA also followed
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.
Former Olympiacos big and EuroLeague legend Kyle Hines wrote a heartfelt message for his coach:
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.”
Ivkovic has coached CSKA between 2002 and 2005.
PAOK also sent out their own goodbye to their former coach.
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.”
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:
Former player and Turkish basketball federation president Hidayet Turkoglu also added the following.