The Montenegrin national basketball team’s current record stands at four EuroBasket and two WorldBasket participations in major competitions. This was the situation until last Sunday when, in Stockholm, our team secured their spot for the fifth European Championship (EC), marking the third consecutive appearance. This achievement signifies continuity in competing at major events.

Since becoming independent, Montenegro has only missed one European Championship, which took place in 2015. This August, our team will celebrate ten years of consistent participation in both European and world championships, a feat that few nations besides basketball powerhouses can claim.

The path to EuroBasket began last February in Ludwigsburg. The qualifiers started with a loss to Germany (85:61), but exactly one year later, on February 25, Montenegro overcame Sweden in Podgorica (95:70). A crucial milestone was achieved in November when Bulgaria was defeated in both matches (85:62, 90:86), placing the “reds” close to qualifying. Despite losing to Germany in Podgorica (95:76) and Sweden in Stockholm after overtime (86:83), their passage was never in jeopardy.

Throughout the qualifiers, coach Boško Radović faced challenges as he couldn’t always rely on a full roster. The strongest lineup was fielded against Bulgaria, with Petar Popović as the only absentee. Notably, NBA player Nikola Vučević missed the qualifiers, and in February last year, Radović was without Bojan Dubljević and Nikola Ivanović. Dubljević also missed the last “window,” where Igor Drobnjak and Marko Todorović were absent. Ivanović played against Sweden, while Marko Simonović, Vladimir Mihailović, and Luka Bogavac missed that match. Additionally, Kendrick Perry departed from the national team, leading to expectations for Charlie Moore to take his place. Unfortunately, Moore suffered a knee injury in December and didn’t participate.

– We accomplished something significant for our nation. We’re proud of our hard work. From the initial ‘window,’ it was a challenge; the group was tough, and the lineup changed frequently. Yet, everyone brought their best when called upon. Unity was our strength. It was an honor to be a part of this journey – noted Nemanja Radović.

This sense of unity, camaraderie, and a positive atmosphere have defined the national basketball team for years. With the right health and condition, we can anticipate a formidable performance at EuroBasket. This championship may also mark the final major competition for the experienced players, including 34-year-old Vučević, 33-year-old Dubljević, 34-year-old Mihailović, 31-year-old Ivanović, and 33-year-old Radović, who are the backbone of the team.

The next significant challenge will be the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, but first, there’s the qualification process to navigate. A generational transition is on the horizon, with younger talents like Luka Bogavac and Đorđije Jovanović, who earned a bronze medal with the youth team three years ago, alongside David Mirković and Balša Živanović. The wider talent pool also includes Filip Andđušić and Andrija Grbović, along with Fedor Žugić, another bronze medalist from three years ago in Podgorica.

Regarding the younger men’s teams, which will shape the future, they will all compete over the summer, although they will be in the B division – the youth, cadet, and junior national teams will be distant from the elite and matches with top European teams. The younger teams need substantial support, necessitating collaboration between the Federation and the clubs.

– The focus must be on revitalizing the younger teams. I worry that when the current generation departs from the highest stage, a gap will emerge, both in player talent and results. We need to consolidate efforts with the younger teams urgently. Identifying players who can build a career and represent our national team is crucial – emphasized coach Radović in an interview with “Vijesti” at the end of 2023.

Another consideration is which foreign player will join at the European Championship. Kendrick Perry bid farewell to the national team in style in November, scoring 31 points against Bulgaria in Botevgrad, with Charlie Moore expected to take over. However, after injuring his knee in December, Moore has yet to make his debut. Encouragingly, John Radebau returned to the fold after three years during the final qualifiers. Coach Radović mentioned during a pre-match press conference that the Federation is evaluating options to replace Perry.

– We are exploring suitable alternatives for Perry. There are several possibilities we will monitor as the “window” concludes. We aim to find a fitting replacement in the playmaker position who can step in after Perry’s notable contributions. We have options for naturalizing a player, but will finalize plans after the “window” wraps up – Radović explained.

Boško Radović has achieved remarkable results throughout his coaching career and will lead our team in a major tournament for the third time. Taking over from Zvezdan Mitrović in 2019, he coached the team at EuroBasket 2022 and WorldBasket 2023, where they secured their first-ever Olympic Games qualification. No one has overseen the national basketball team in major competitions more than Radović, whose contract is set to expire following EuroBasket 2025.

EuroBasket is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 14 in Latvia, Finland, Poland, and Cyprus. It will celebrate the end of an extraordinary generation.

And the future should be approached with preparedness.

News