By Utkan Şahin / Translation: Anıl Can Sedef & Mehmet Bahadır Akgün
Zeljko Obradovic is one of the most important figures of European basketball history, if not the most important one.
Since the day he became a coach in 1991, everything that changed and remained the same in the continent’s game revolved around him. He has built such an unparalleled career that no other European coaching legend can match his legacy.
A total of 17 EuroLeague Final Fours, nine titles in 26 years and 39 trophies in total! A man who brings glory wherever he goes, whenever he goes. A man who made the youngest Partizan roster in the history of the EuroLeague, the continental champions.
A man who brought unforgettable consecutive titles to Spanish basketball. A man who turned Panathinaikos into a European dynasty. And also a man who made the big dream of Turkish basketball’s European championship a reality.
To have this kind of success, you have to have talented players and teams. Wherever Obradovic went, he made his team EuroLeague contenders.
He nurtured, improved the best and helped them become champions.
Eurohoops presents an “All-Obradovic” roster that (hypothetically) functions as a real team. The best possible roster, from the best head coach in European basketball history.
PG: Dimitris Diamantidis #13 (Captain)
Seasons together: From 2004 through 2012
Titles together: 3 EuroLeague, 7 Greek League, 6 Greek Cup
“Father and son” of European basketball!
They have a unique story that started in 2004 and lasted through 2012. However, this story wasn’t only success and glory.
This relationship had its ups and downs, disappointments and special moments as every unique tale of victory should have.
Obradovic and Diamantidis played their last Final Four together in 2012 and the Greek legend had one of the worst Final Four games of his career. But that’s what made this relationship special. Not only the success they had together, but also the faith they had in each other.
In every part of their relationship, Obradovic asked and Diamantidis answered. That mutual understanding and faith are what made Obradovic said these words:
“Sasa Djordjevic, Dejan Bodiroga and Dimitris Diamantidis are three players that I only had to look at them for them to realize what I want from them”
PG: Sarunas Jasikevicius #19
Seasons together: From 2007 through 2010 and 2011-12
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 3 Greek League, 3 Greek Cup
Two basketball geniuses that first clashed and then found a way to understand and learn from each other gradually.
At first, their relationship was not perfect. Saras was just back from the NBA, making his return to Europe in Athens for Panathinaikos. Three elite guards of their age (and later European basketball history) Saras-Diamantidis-Spanoulis consisted of a trio under the rule of Obradovic.
They’re on court chemistry had a rough start, especially on defense. However, for both of them, one thing was the most important: Winning. This is why Jasikevicius understood what Obradovic wanted from him, even though he was playing differently than when he was the Final Four MVP (four years ago).
In the historic 2009 Final Four, he was one of the underrated heroes.
PG: Sasa Djordjevic #10
Season together: 1991-92
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 3 Yugoslavia League, 3 Yugoslavia Cup
In 1992, an underdog team became the EuroLeague champion. The roster’s average age was 22 years old, and they were not able to play their home games in their own country due to the civil war in Yugoslavia.
It was just a fairy tale that became real. Everything was against them, but they overcame and shocked the European basketball world.
Obradovic and Sasha Djordjevic were two of the three big heroes of that fairytale title. Djordjevic was the team’s leader, the man who made that legendary shot to win the title. And 32-year-old Obradovic was a young but determined coach who led his team to glory despite the unbelievable adversity of his team.
And their special bond was best described by an incident remained unknown until Djordjevic told Uğur Ozan Sulak of Socrates:
“In a playoff game -a quarter-final game if I am not wrong- I did something contradicting his mentality. He called me to his side and showed me out with his finger. Weeks ago we were sleeping in beds next to each other. I went to the locker room.
After the final buzzer, he came to me. He looked at me from the other side of the locker room. I looked at him, he smiled. Then we hugged and started to cry. He said “Sasha, I am sorry. It’s all my fault.” He was mumbling. I also said I am sorry. We hugged and cried for minutes. He did this to me, I was his best friend. It was also a message to the team. Obradovic did this to the captain of the team, one of the best players, his former roommate. There was not a single reason for him to not to do it to you.”
G: Vassilis Spanoulis #6
Seasons together: 2005-2006 & 2007-2010
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 3 Greek League, 3 Greek Cup
After four successful seasons with Maroussi, Spanoulis agreed to sign with Obradovic‘s team in 2005. However, their time together was not ideal. Until 2009, when Obradovic beat Ettore Messina in Berlin’s Final Four thanks to Vassilis Spanoulis’ great games.
‘Kill Bill’ always wanted to be the leader of the team, so he decided to sign with Panathinaikos‘ rivals, Olympiacos. A signing which was considered a surprising move from a great player.
Spanoulis learned a lot from Obradovic on the way to becoming a true leader, and Obradovic was lucky to have him against Messina.
Even though they now are opponents in the EuroLeague, Spanoulis belongs to this list, since he is one of the best EuroLeague players of all-time.
SG: Predrag Danilovic #5
Season together: 1991-1992
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 3 Yugoslavia League, 3 Yugoslavia Cup
Predrag Danilovic was one critical piece to Obradovic‘s Partizan’s fairytale; part of the ‘Big 3′.
Danilovic had one of the most unique characters in the history of European basketball. He was a competitive guy. His duels against Italian scorer Carlton Myers bear a great place in fans’ minds. Besides, he was clutch. He took a step forward when it mattered most. Although Djordjevic beat the buzzer in the final in İstanbul, Danilovic’s performance was the prominent one in the Final Four. He was the MVP of the Final Four, as he averaged 19.4 points per game.
His relationship with Obradovic had begun before 1992 when Obradovic became a coach.
It was Dusko Vujosevic who made him a special player, but it was Obradovic who made him sign with Partizan. Obradovic went to see tryouts of the Serbian national team.
He (Danilovic) was a special talent and had a unique temper. He once even tried to punch Messina. Many Serbians, including Zeljko Obradovic, considered him, along with Djordjevic, the best one-two punch of all time. However, they did not get along well with each other.
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic #13
Seasons together: 2014-2017
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 2 Turkish League, 1 Turkish Cup, 1 President’s Cup
It was a cold Belgrade night when a 21-year-old young man stepped to the charity line with 22 seconds on the clock (2014).
The atmosphere in Kombank Arena was intense. Partizan was playing against the title favorite CSKA Moscow. The 21-year-old managed to score 10 points in the final quarter and cut the deficit for Partizan to just one point. Partizan was trailing by one point in the last 43 seconds. Bogdan Bogdanovic made both free throws and iced the game.
After the final buzzer sounded all the Partizan fans went crazy as Bogdanovic helped his team get the win by scoring 27 points. From that moment, everyone knew that he was special.
European powerhouses fought to sign him, but Obradovic‘s factor took Fenerbahce a step further.
During his first year with Fenerbahce, he was mainly responsible for defending the best offensive player of the opponent, but he was still trying to seize opportunities on offense.
Andrew Goudelock and Nemanja Bjelica’s departures in his second year gave him more opportunities. Yet, he still was not consistent. He needed another season to become “great.”
His last season in İstanbul started with many unfortunate events. He got injured and was sidelined for more than two months.
When he came back, Bogdan Bogdanovic carried his team to the Final Four, with incredible-historic performances in Athens against Panathinaikos.
Finally, he led Fener to its first ever EuroLeague title in 2017.
F: Dejan Bodiroga #10
Seasons together: 1996-1997 ve 1998-2002
Titles together: 2 EuroLeague, 3 Greek League, 1 Saporta
“I have worked with many players in my career, none like Dejan.”
Get two kings of the European basketball together and see what happens. Zeljko Obradovic and Dejan Bodiroga.
Obradovic and Bodiroga med in Madrid for the first time. Following Sabonis’ departure, Obradovic needed a new leader, and his first choice was his player from the national team, Bodiroga. Having won the Saporta Cup together, Bodiroga’s final performance was tremendous: 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
The Saporta title was not enough for the two to stay together. Shortly after, the two reunited in Panathinaikos.
Just one year after Bodiroga signed with Panathinaikos, Obradovic became the coach of the ‘Greens’ and carried them to a EuroLeague championship in 2000, after defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Two years later in Bologna, Panathinaikos won yet another EuroLeague trophy. Bodiroga was named the MVP of the Final Four, after he had great games, scoring in every way.
Bodiroga and Obradovic won three titles in their four seasons together. Their story was a special one.
Just like Obradovic said, nobody understood him better than Bodiroga.
SF: Ramunas Siskauskas #9
Seasons together: 2006-2007
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 1 Greek League, 1 Greek Cup
It was a short but particular story. Siskauskas was there for Obradovic when Zoc faced with one of the most significant challenges of his life.
The five years from 2002-2007 were tough for Obradovic, as the last championship was won in 2002.
Besides, in the summer of 2016, team’s prominent star Jaka Lakovic signed with Barcelona and Spanoulis preferred the NBA.
Obradovic was looking for replacements, and so Siskauskas showed up. Slowly but surely, Siskauskas was averaging 8.8 points in the regular season. The Top-16 had a different story to it. Panathinaikos clinched the first spot in a tough group, with Siskauskas averaging 12.0 points per game.
During the playoffs, Siskauskas was the primary scoring option as he averaged 17.5 points and carried his team to the Final Four in OAKA.
In the Final against CSKA, Panathinaikos‘ guard was on another level, scoring 20 points and handing out five assists for the European champions.
PF: Nemanja Bjelica #8
Seasons together: 2013-2015
Titles together: 1 Turkish League, 1 President’s Cup
A 2.08cm forward, who can shoot from everywhere, grab all possible rebounds and post-up is a unique talent. Nemanja Bjelica could do it all.
Obradovic knew how talented Bjelica was and challenged him. The 2013-2014 season was an unforgettable season for Fenerbahce, as Bjelica was ready to play at the highest level. Obradovic built the team around him.
Bjelica eventually worked extra hard on the court, showcased his skills and most importantly carried Fener to its first Final Four appearance.
Nemanja Bjelica held the MVP trophy just before the Final Four, and it was a dream-come-true: Bjelica was the best player in Europe.
Even though Bjelica has not won a EuroLeague title with Obradovic, he deserves to be on this list.
C: Arvydas Sabonis #11
Seasons together: 1994-1995
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague
Having won the EuroLeague in 1980 for the last time, Real Madrid added one of the most important centers -if not the most important- to the team in 1992: Arvydas Sabonis. In first two years, everything was going the way planned.
And yet, Real Madrid wanted to win the European championship before parting ways with Sabonis. So, Madrid signed Zeljko Obradovic in 1994 after making Partizan and Joventut the continent’s champions.
With the arrival of Zeljko Obradovic, Real Madrid’s scoring average dropped down from 79 points to 75, but the defensive impact he had was huge. Obradovic’s squad allowed 68 points per game in a single season.
Zeljko Obradovic’s team won the championship with a team built around Sabonis, who was only four years younger than Zoc. Even though they did not have a great relationship, they got the job done.
C: Ekpe Udoh #8
Seasons together: 2015-2017
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 2 Turkish League, 1 Turkish Cup, 1 President’s Cup
Fenerbahce‘s fans were suspicious when Ekpe Udoh signed in the place of Nemanja Bjelica. The Nigerian-American center registered only three minutes of playing time in 33 NBA games. However, we witnessed a different story.
Fenerbahce would be satisfied even with an average performance by Ekpe Udoh, but he played excellent basketball.
Obradovic wanted from Udoh to protect the rim, and he became one of the best defenders in Europe.
Eight months after his arrival in Turkey, he became a fan-favorite, especially after the playoff series against Real Madrid. Ekpe Udoh’s legacy grew even higher the following year, as he performed at a historic level in the Final Four.
Just after the Final Four, Obradovic explained Udoh’s mentality.
“I have been coaching for 25 years and I do not remember any other guy who has Ekpe’s concentration. He plays both ends of the floor with great focus.”
C: Nikola Pekovic #14
Seasons together: 2008-2010
Titles together: 1 EuroLeague, 2 Greek League, 1 Greek Cup
Arvydas Sabonis, Ekpe Udoh, and Nemanja Bjelica! All three big men went to the NBA after working with Zeljko Obradovic. Yet, the list goes on.
Nikola Pekovic’s excellent season at Partizan brought him to Zeljko Obradovic‘s Panathinaikos.
Obradovic had terrific guards in Spanoulis, Diamantidis, and Saras, which allowed Pekovic to become a great fit for the team as a finisher around the rim and complement Euro-legend and current NBA assistant coach Mike Batiste. Zeljko Obradovic even concealed Pekovic’s deficiencies in the defensive end in a great way.
Obradovic drew the right path for the Montenegrin big man, and Pekovic implemented what his legendary coach had taught him to become an NBA star, just after two seasons with Panathinaikos.