Goran Grbović Exposes Serbian Basketball Disaster: How We Missed Nikola Jokić and Other Talents
Serbian basketball, once a source of national pride, is now in serious trouble, and the culprit is the system! Goran Grbović, former Yugoslav national team player and ex-Partizan star, spares no words in an interview with Sport Klub. He openly criticizes the work of coaches and clubs in Serbia, claiming that true talents are neither recognized nor properly developed.
Tragic Failures in Talent Recognition
Grbović points out that the problem lies in the failure to recognize the potential of young players. According to him, no one in Serbia recognized Nikola Jokić, while the Americans did. Similar fates befell Predrag Stojaković at Crvena zvezda and Vladan Jovanović, who sat on the bench for two years before getting a chance. Grbović says, “How can a basketball nation like Serbia miss unique talents and steal a year or two of their time?”
Nikola Jokić – A Case Study of System Failure
He especially highlights Nikola Jokić’s case, who in his youth worked with coaches who failed to see his true potential. “Jokić went to the NBA and made a miracle, but no one here saw his essence. This is a tragic moment for Serbian basketball.”
Coaches and the System – Where’s the Problem?
Grbović doesn’t spare the coaches either, citing Balša Koprivica, a young player who did not progress for four years. “If you can’t teach a player in four years, the problem is with the coach, not the player. Everyone has diplomas, but that’s not enough. You must know the character, temperament; you can’t learn that from books.”
He praises coach Milan Gurović, who has a special approach and whose youth teams win because his players know exactly what they are doing.
The System Has Lost Its Way
Grbović concludes that Serbia lacks a proper basketball school, and that teams and academies like Mega, FMP, Partizan, and Zvezda, although working in their own ways, have produced insufficient results. “The system has lost its way, and that’s a loss for the future of Serbian basketball.”
Conclusion
Serbian basketball stands at a crossroads. Whether the system will change and young talents will finally be recognized and developed remains to be seen. But one thing is clear – if things continue like this, Serbia will lose many more great players.
So, what do you think? Is it time for a serious reset of Serbian basketball, or is this just a passing crisis? Drop a comment and let the people’s voice be heard!
