By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce forward Nikola Kalinic has been unable to join the Serbian national team in the first stage of the World Cup Qualifiers due to the obligations with his club but will play in the first Window of the second round, held in September.
As one can imagine, Kalinic hasn’t been exactly happy with the dates of the World Cup Qualifiers, considering that he couldn’t join his national team once more after missing the EuroBasket due to an injury.
“The whole situation is confusing,” Kalinic told Greek national television ERT when asked about the FIBA Windows during a break from a game in LG AegeanBall Festival. “It’s some war of the egos probably between some people who maybe never even played basketball. Like I’m always saying, I’m not against the Windows. You just need to find a good time. I’ve said many times and I’ll say it one more time. There are no games in New Year’s Eve. Maybe they can put a game in New Year’s Eve and another in summer. I think all the players will like that. American guys or guys who aren’t from Europe can go home in New Year’s Eve. Something like an All-Star break.”
Still, Kalinic clarified that he may play for Serbia in the upcoming games of the second qualifying round for the FIBA World Cup in September.
Kalinic is at the island of Syros, Greece to play in the LG AegeanBall Festival following an invitation by Olympiacos forward Giorgos Printezis who co-organizes the event. Barcelona guard Thomas Heurtel, Baskonia forward Tornike Shengelia and Olympiacos forward Kostas Papanikolaou are also among the star-participants of the festival.