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.