By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Former player Milan Gurovic is set for a reunion with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet. As a guest of Ndirektno on K1, he confirmed his return but fell short of announcing the projected role.
During the interview, he pointed out that Dusko Ivanovic rejected Markus Howard and Chima Moneke for the team based in Belgrade during the offseason. The Montenegrin tactician leaving early in the 2023-24 campaign, returned to Baskonia and joined forces with both players. In late October, Giannis Sfairopoulos took over head-coaching responsibilities at Zvezda.
“If it was up to me, I would not sign Freddie Gillespie. He did not suit Pablo Laso in Munich, one of the best European coaches, so we should not need him either. A center with limited ball-handling abilities. We see he depends on Milos Teodosic. He can’t score in any other situation. Such a player does not deserve to be at Zvezda. Neither does [Javonte] Smart who has not shown anything so far,” he mentioned on recent roster adjustments, relays Mozzart Sport.
“The head coach made huge mistakes, not [Giannis] Sfairopoulos, the one before him. We all know who he was. He brought in some players. [Markus] Howard and [Chima] Moneke were offered to him. They were on the list and offered. [Dusko] Ivanovic rejected them, they were not enough for him. Weirdly, he is their head coach now,” wondered Gurovic.
“Dusko Ivanovic selected the players. It is a shame that you don’t have a good enough team to compete for the Playoffs, with such supporters,” he added.
At 10-15, the team based in Belgrade currently sits three games outside the Play-In zone of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings. Salvaging a postseason berth across nine outings remaining in the double-legged round-robin schedule of the Regular Season is the challenge for Sfairopoulos and his players.
“Money probably decides”
Gurovic, 48, worked for Zvezda as an assistant coach in 2012-13. Following head-coaching spells stretched from FMP to Vrsac. A lengthy playing career featured stints in Turkiye, Poland, Spain, Italy, and Greece, besides playing on both ends of the rivalry between Crvena Zvezda and Partizan Mozzart Bet.
“If we look at their overall picture, nobody can compare. I can say that because I have played everywhere and there is no such atmosphere. Money probably decides,” he mentioned on the Belgrade giants deserving to be included among A-license clubs of the EuroLeague, “As for Monaco, it has a good team but plays in a school gym, in my opinion.”
Photo Credit: ABA League j.t.d. / Dragana Stjepanovic