By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Former Partizan Belgrade captain Novica Velickovic touched on the injury problems he faced throughout his career – especially during his run with Real Madrid – and didn’t allow him to reach his full potential. Velickovic retired in July at 34 years of age.
“For four or five years, I had a brutal sequence,” Velickovic said to Radio Marca. “I played with Partizan, we got into the Top 8 of EuroLeague and I could sign for one of the biggest teams. I didn’t know what my limit was. Everything that happened to me was good. Surely, without injuries I could’ve done great things and this bothers me because I don’t know what my limit is. In my last year at Real Madrid, Pablo Laso helped me a lot, we had a very good relationship. I couldn’t train because of my knee, but he waited for me until the end and I was able to play in the [ACB] playoffs.”
Velickovic signed with Real Madrid in 2009 following the breakthrough season of his career. He was named Rising Star of the 2008-9 EuroLeague after averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds to help the Serbian side make the playoffs.
He parted ways with Real in 2012 and had stints with Brose Bamberg, Mega Basket and Trabzonspor before returning to Partizan in 2016 as the team captain.
A week ago, a game was held in Belgrade in Velickovic’s honor between Partizan and reigning EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes.