By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Sasa Obradovic had another successful season as the head coach of Monaco, defending the French throne and nearing consecutive EuroLeague Final Four appearances, finishing third in the competition standings after the regular season.
Despite losing Game 5 of the EuroLeague Playoffs in the last moments, he expressed satisfaction with last season’s achievements.
“People can judge in various ways, and I always evaluate myself based on what I could give. I couldn’t have given more, and that’s the most important thing; I am at peace with myself. Regarding the results, in the EuroLeague, we had more wins than last year, and we dominantly won the French league. That one shot that could have taken us to the Final Four would have confirmed an extremely good result again, but I’m not dissatisfied. One shot cannot change your opinion about what you have achieved throughout the whole season,” Obradovic said.
Monaco competed in four competitions, with 34 games in the regular season of the French League and another 34 in the EuroLeague regular season, plus playoffs, the French Cup, and the Leaders Cup.
“We had the most games, which isn’t easy. In the French league, we faced motivational problems because everyone’s focus was on the EuroLeague and performing their best there, but we found a way, despite many issues, injuries, and an abnormal schedule — during the Leaders Cup period, we played 10 games in 20 days. It’s impossible to maintain the same concentration over 90-plus games, regardless of demands; some things have to be accepted. It’s no longer as it used to be. One must adapt and find a way to handle such a schedule.”
Obradovic also discussed the competition Monaco faced in France.
“Players perceive the French league differently, and they don’t approach it with the same intensity as other teams, but there’s a noticeable difference. The team that won the EuroCup also had a phenomenal season; we’re talking about Paris, we defeated in the last two games of the finals with margins of plus 30 and plus 40. It may be too big of a margin, but it underscores the quality of teams in the EuroLeague and EuroCup.”
Next season, three French teams will participate in the EuroLeague, with Paris joining Monaco and ASVEL as the BKT EuroCup winner.
“There may be better teams or teams that can perform equally well, but Paris deserved to play in the EuroLeague through the EuroCup. It’s a new experience for them. ASVEL is already there; they didn’t excel last year, but it’s a team with tradition, in a good city. Perhaps attention should be paid to the fact that basketball is played, without underestimating others, in big cities, and interest spreads.”
The goals for the Roca Team remain the same going into the 2024/25 season.
“People always tell me that continuity is important, and to some extent, it’s true. Everyone expects big things; at least reaching the EuroLeague playoffs next year. However, there’s still a bitter feeling compared to the previous year, where realistically, both in terms of play and continuity, we deserved a place among the top four teams. After all, we finished third after the regular season. We always set high goals; there’s no need to talk about small things. I would love to reach the Final Four, and beyond that, the outcome is always uncertain. Favorites who were appointed didn’t end up as winners in the last two years. It will be a very competitive season; many factors will decide, such as player injuries, roster depth, and timing…But I’m looking forward to it.”
Regarding the upcoming season, Obradovic also discussed recruitment.
“People often ask me if something is my choice, if I wanted this or that… Things change and so does that. I am involved and not involved in player selection. There’s a rough idea; the team works on it, the GM and president decide, sometimes considering marketing aspects and continuity, which is also important. But one shouldn’t forget the limitations of the market. Finding a player profile that satisfies you has never been more challenging. Even last season, perhaps we didn’t strengthen much, but we had a team that already knew how to play together. Players get along well on and off the court, which gave us good chemistry and consistency in results.”
About continuity, EuroLeague all-time top scorer Mike James signed a contract extension to stay with Monaco for another three years.
“MVP of the EuroLeague, MVP of the finals, MVP of the All-Star game… All of that is very important to me, the team, and of course to him. However, after achieving those individual honors, we expect that to materialize through team. Now that individual awards are achived, he needs to achieve something more valuable, since basketball is ultimately a team sport. He needs to take a step forward. We all expect that from him, and of course, for him to make his team and his coach even better. It’s important for him to understand that he can contribute to the team in more ways than just scoring, and he can. Besides being very talented offensively, he can also be the best defensive player when he wants to be.“
Another player who was crucial in the team’s historic EuroLeague Final Four appearance during the 2022/23 season, Jordan Loyd, had a year interrupted by injuries.
“There were expectations for him to provide stability for the team on and off the court throughout the year, but he underwent surgery last summer, another during the season, and received numerous injections… In the end, he showed his true self. He has always been dear to me as a person; we maintained contact since our time at Crvena Zvezda. He was a great support to me, leading the team through his behavior, dedication, and example in every training session, even when not playing. We wouldn’t discuss whether he’s here or not, his back condition is monitored, and that might be the only question regarding him.”
Like James, Jeron Blossomgame also signed a contract extension with Monaco.
“He’s growing with the team. At the beginning, he was in rotation, where you have to give more importance to someone to be productive, and he found it difficult alongside someone like Cornelie, and it wasn’t easy to share playing time. We also had John Brown and Motiejunas in that position, who were already an established pair. His beginning was a bit tougher, but in the end, like in the season before, he was one of the key players“.
At the beginning of last season, Monaco made a significant addition in NBA veteran Kemba Walker, but unfortunately, he struggled to find his rhythm and decided to retire after a year with the French champions.
“Although I couldn’t give him the chance he might have expected, he is a great winner and a wonderful person, which was immediately evident. People loved him both in the locker room and on the court; he won the hearts of everyone here at the club. It was a great pleasure to work with him. There remains regret because of the problems he had with injury, but he always fought and showed extraordinary talent. I wish I’d been a part of his career when he was at his peak“, Obradovic said.
Olympic Games, Serbian Clubs in EuroLeague, and EHCB Coaching Congress
He also discussed various other current and interesting basketball topics, such as the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
As a player, Obradovic won the Olympic silver medal in Atlanta in 1996, playing against Team USA in the final, facing stars like Charles Barkley, Penny Hardaway, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Hakeem Olajuwon. That Yugoslavian team held their ground against the NBA stars but eventually fell to the Dream Team III, as that US selection was known.
The United States has assembled an impressive team for the upcoming Olympic tournament as well, clearly aiming for gold with players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker… And will face Serbia at the group stage.
“That silver medal was the pinnacle. Even those thirty minutes in parity with the then Dream Team… I think that has changed too. Now it seems to me, compared to players who are already adapted to that style of play because they play in larger numbers in the NBA, it will certainly be easier for them to understand how they should play. We have a lot of quality that can oppose their individual quality if we talk about the Americans.”
The Serbian national team, led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, also hopes of a medal.
“How Serbia will perform, in which lineup, is very important. With all the best players, we will certainly have a chance. Whether it’s gold or not, winning a medal is important, maintaining continuity in results. Even without the best players, as the previous competition showed, it’s possible. It would be good if everyone is available; it’s a major competition, a grand gathering of the best teams. It will be really interesting and a true promotion of basketball and our country, aiming for the highest achievements. We have many reasons to believe so. There’s also the injury factor; we’ll see how preparations unfold. I hope everyone remains healthy so we can challenge for one of the medals with the best possible lineup.”
As a former Crvena Zvezda player and head coach, Obradovic will return before the Serbian crowd once again next season, playing against his former team and Partizan in the EuroLeague.
“With all these signings, there is a certain expectation for results, which is justified. They will be tough opponents. They might have some of the best coaches in the EuroLeague, yet another reason to expect great results.”
This summer, Sasa Obradovic also participated in the EHCB Coaches Congress held in Athens.
“This year it will be 20 years since I became a coach. You can certainly summarize things at the Coaching Congress, although you’ve already heard and know a lot, but it’s always important to refresh and maybe insert something new into the program. There are many benefits. It’s very useful for all of us to meet. During the season, it’s challenging for us to even talk, let alone meet and exchange experiences, maybe just short moments and information about players or tactics… However, these are moments of relaxation, not just work. It’s always pleasant to discuss everything in a relaxed atmosphere.”
He emphasized the importance of participating in such congresses for coaches.
“I always respond gladly, and it will always be like that. However, I think our coaching profession could be better understood, especially by the EuroLeague. I believe we are somewhat undervalued. There are also working meetings that should improve cooperation with the EuroLeague officials and among ourselves. There are many topics to discuss. Everyone should participate, voice their opinions. Let’s think broadly, not just about ourselves and our teams, but also about organization,” Sasa Obradovic concluded.