By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Before the major roster overhaul heading to the 2024-25 season, Partizan Mozzart Bet underwent several changes on the way to the 2023-24 season as well. Head coach Zeljko Obradovic discussed adjustments during an appearance on Direktno.
“Two of them were EuroLeague champions, one was in the Final Four, and another player in the NBA Finals,” he referred to Mathias Lessort and Ioannis Papapetrou moving to Panathinaikos Aktor, Yam Madar to Fenerbahce Beko, and Dante Exum to the Dallas Mavericks, “We are talking about players of great quality.”
Besides departing players, Nikola Mirotic canceled an agreement with the Belgrade outfit. “The transition was marked by one situation that I do not want to go back to,” mentioned Obradovic.
At the end of the season, Partizan drew a 16-18 record in the Regular Season of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, missing the cut for the Play-In Showdown by one game. Falling short to archrival Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet put Partizan as the runner-up in the AdmiralBet ABA League and the Radivoj Korac Cup.
“We won only one of those 12 games,” he added talking about tight contests of the 2023-24 campaign decided by one possession.
Moving on to the next editions of continental, regional, and domestic competitions, the team coached by Obradovic brought in 13 new players.
“Naturally, there is enthusiasm at the beginning of the new season. The players are eager to work and have good relationships with each other,” he talked about recently launching training camp, “When difficult times come, some things change and then true characters come out. But for now, there is no reason to worry.”