By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The leading scorer (22,8 ppg) and the third rebounder (8,9 rpg) of the European championship U20 in 2008 is the same player with this one who has changed four teams the last three years? Besiktas will try to revive one of the most promising projects of Serbian and European basketball by giving Vladimir Dasic the chance to prove that the image of the gifted Montenegrin talent wasn’t a mirage.
The 24 year old forward was regarded as one of the best big men of his generation impressing everyone steadily in the youth European Championships. But after his departure from Buducnost in 2009, he never lived up to expectations.
His transfer to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid caused a lot of noise, but he barely completed a two digit number of game appearances, before he was loaned to Gran Canaria. But even there he didn’t stay for a long time. Coach Pedro Martinez drove him away from the practices accusing him of “maladjustment” and his “attitude”.
Italian club Roma “freed” Madridistas from Dacic, but his presence there on and off the court didn’t change much. According to the rumors he used to spend his time more to nightclubs than in basketball gyms enjoying … “la dolce vita”, away from basketball.
In 2010-11 season, he showed that he could be effective in offense with great physical skills and excellent shooting ability by improving his mentality. However, neither the Romans wanted him any more and gave him to Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana, where also he wasn’t really impressive.
Besiktas decided to take a gamble in him and coach Erman Kunter’s bet is to… play with Dasic’ mind. In any case he’s still 24 years old and nothing is irreversible. He needs only to watch a DVD of one of his games four years ago and remember what he can do in the court.
UPDATE (14/3/2013): Dasic never played up to his potential in Besiktas, he was released mid season and signed to Serbian club Valjevo.