By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the Night of the Dragon, the farewell game for Goran Dragic, Igor Kokoskov detailed his relationship with the player, opened up on his NBA career, and ranked Nikola Jokic alongside tennis superstar Novak Djokovic as an ambassador of Serbia.
“He has not finished his career yet,” he talked to Meridian Sport about the leader of the Denver Nuggets, “He should have been a four-time MVP, but he was not. Maybe he will be next season.”
“It is versatility that is always the most useful,” added Kokoskov, “What will Jokic do in the next 13 years? It will be an impressive career, after which we can say that he can be among the greatest of all time.”
“There are no better ambassadors of Serbia than Novak Djokovic and Nikola Jokic,” he continued, “Ask a random person in New York. Everyone knows who Jokic is and everyone knows who Djokovic is. I am not sure about everyone else.”
Goran Dragic
Attending the farewell game of Dragic resurfaced the 2017 EuroBasket and gold medals with the recently retired player being named tournament MVP. Another connection was contributing to negotiations to secure the draft rights of Dragic in 2008.
“They were talking about a kid from Slovenia. I did not know much about him. But I was present when we stole him, called San Antonio, and negotiated the terms,” he recalled joining the coaching staff of the Phoenix Suns shortly before the 2008 NBA draft and the trade with the San Antonio Spurs for the rights of Dragic, the 45th overall pick, “That is when our joint work started. It is also an indication of how old we are. All this is emotional because a large part of my basketball career is related to Goran.”
“Maybe, I would not have accepted the offer to take over the team if it was not for Goran, who knew he had maybe two years left to try for something more with the national team,” he referred to being named head coach of the senior national team of Slovenia in 2016, “That clicked between us, ‘let us do this together. I need you’. The national team of Slovenia was attractive to me on its own, but his voice was very important to me, to work with him.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Following the 2024 Olympic Games and capturing a bronze medal with Serbia, Bogdan Bogdanovic focuses on his eighth NBA campaign and fifth in Atlanta.
“He has always been there for the national team, responded, played with a lot of emotions that people can appreciate and recognize. They are grateful to him,” said Kokoskov, “He is at the point of breaking national team and FIBA records. A real captain.”
“He was already a great worker, but the NBA ruined him,” he jokingly added on the 32-year-old Serbian guard, “He understands and listens to his body. He is much more rational in the games and also in practice. It is more of a mental adjustment that he did well, as did Goran Dragic at his age. It is our Balkan way of working.”
Atlanta Hawks
In 2023, Kokoskov was hired as an assistant coach of the Hawks. Previous jobs as an assistant ranged from the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks to the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Clippers. His spells with the Suns included a head-coaching gig in the 2018-19 season.
“Earlier in my career, I stayed longer with one single team, but in recent years, unfortunately, due to circumstances, I changed teams,” he pointed out, “Quin Snyder is a great coach, a good friend, and knows what he is doing. He knows how to lead a young team that also has experience with Capela and Bogdanovic. I hope we can have success. Entering the Playoffs would be an achievement. And anything can happen there.”