By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The Serbian national team boss Aleksandar Djordjevic and the Sacramento Kings GM Vlade Divac go way back. They’ve known each other for a long time and represented the former Yugoslavian national team together on many occasions as players, three of those ended with a medal.
That connection has been very important for the Serbian team as two important players are bound by the Kings at the moment – Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nemanja Bjelica. Djordjevic noted that Divac understands the situation as he also experienced the same problems during his career and has provided real help:
“Huge! Divac is exceptionally positive towards us, he understands our obligations. There are a few more details to be taken care of regarding Bogdanovic but as far as Bjelica goes it’s done. Bogdanovic underwent a surgery at the end of the season, so we have to keep an eye, but Vlade is a man who remembers the problems he had while playing with NBA teams and he is exceptionally willing to help. We’ve been in touch for the past three or four nights talking about it. I’m so glad both of them are on his team because it will help them in their further careers”, Djordjevic told the Serbian press, per Basketballsphere.
Unlike the Kings, three other Serbian NBA players won’t be present for the upcoming games as Denver Nuggets‘ Nikola Jokic, and LA Clippers‘ Milos Teodosic and Boban Marjanovic canceled their participation. Although Djordjevic feels it could’ve ended differently, he notes it’s time to leave all of it behind and focus on the future:
“As the windows pile up, the less of us there are… I was a big optimist in front of this window when I put up the preliminary list hoping the big names will be here, that they’ll receive permission from their clubs, that they won’t have any problems… But unfortunately, some canceled, some had to listen to their club’s opinion… Actually, they didn’t have to but… That’s the case with Teodosic and Marjanovic who won’t be present. We always talk about it but it’s time to close the chapter and turn to our first obligation, the big match that awaits us against Greece.”