By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Paris, France – After the bronze medal game between Serbia and Germany, Vasilije Micic talked to Eurohoops about representing his country in the 2024 Olympic Games and the next season with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
“It is great to finish with success,” he referred to capturing a bronze medal in Paris. “I always say that for bronze, we have to win. And that feeling stays forever, medal as well. But most important, our memories, our experience together.”
“This is the first summer that we have gathered all together without missing some players. And we felt directly the definition of commitment, of team. And I would be happy to be part of next summer as well with everyone. Because for the biggest achievements, you need time, you need patience,” he continued on his international teammates and possibly playing together in the 2025 EuroBasket, “We are still a little bit short for a gold or silver. But still, this bronze shines like gold for us. And hopefully, we all stick together next year.”
In the Semifinals, a late rally by the United States prevented Serbia from advancing to the gold medal game of the tournament.
“Loss is something that defines that game,” he pointed out to Eurohoops, “We were extremely good. We were, I would say, at our peak from all of our performances. A great, awesome memory.”
“We will be proud,” he added on takeaways from the losing effort, “That was the best team lately from them. And just being able to stay in the game and leading by 10 or 15, I do not know how much it was. It will stay with us as a great success, but also experience that we learned from it.”
“And I think that was also some sort of motivation for the game,” he expanded his answer into the clash with Germany for bronze, “Because we did not feel desperate. We felt that we gave everything. And then also having the chance to compete for bronze for each one of us, it was a great opportunity.”
Micic, 30, moved his talents to the NBA before the 2023-24 season. Between a minor role with the Oklahoma City Thunder to more playing time with the Hornets, he averaged 7.0 points and 4.4 assists per contest. During the Olympic tournament, he tallied 13.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.
“The NBA is a different story,” he told Eurohoops about his showings in France impacting his career in the league based in North America, “Over there you have to be ready for everything. I experienced everything already in the first year. I am happy to stay in Charlotte. We will see. I will be, as always, the best version of myself in every sort of category. But about how it going to develop, I do not know. Hopefully, the best way.”
Following the 2024-25 season, he contract includes a team option for the 2025-26 season.
Photo Credit: FIBA