By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a quick turnaround from Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Serbian tactician Aleksandar Dzikic moved to the senior national team of Georgia.
Dzikic, 52, considered an offer from Georgia but was initially blocked by the Jerusalem outfit, as reported by Eurohoops in early December. However, leaving the Israeli club resurfaced the option for the Georgian Basketball Federation.
Striking a deal produced a contract through this summer’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga against Latvia, Brazil, Cameroon, Montenegro, and the Philippines. Success in the approaching Qualifiers would extend the stint into the 2025 edition of EuroBasket. To advance to the final stage, Georgia must rank over at least one out of Serbia and Denmark in Group G.
Hired by Hapoel Jerusalem before the 2022-23 season, his efforts reached the championship game of the 2023 Basketball Champions League Final Four. Domestically, capturing the Migdal State Cup in January and reaching the Semifinals of the Ligat Winner Playoffs after ranking second in the Regular Season prompted the Coach of the Year award in Israel. Early in the 2023-24 campaign, he also won the Winner League Cup.
Replacing Greek head coach Ilias Zouros, Dzikic carries experience at the international level from spells with the U20 team of Serbia and the senior squad of North Macedonia. Coaching at the club level includes Lietuvos Rytas, Partizan NIS, and Buducnost VOLI.
In the NBA, he worked as an assistant under Dwane Casey at the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2005 to 2007.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League