By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
One of the most powerful figures in European basketball, Miško Ražnatović discussed the recent changes in the Serbian national team, the current state of the Euroleague, the developments in both Red Star and Partizan and also an ambitious new project: the possible creation of a unique global basketball league alongside LeBron James.
In an interview with MozzartSport, one of basketball’s most prominents figures spoke about what one of the biggest issues in European basketball is: the lack of a strong, decisive leader at the top of the Euroleague organization. “The Euroleague needs someone like Adam Silver or like David Stern, before him. Their decisions were unquestionable. As for the future, no one really knows. NBA Europe is on the horizon, but it’s unclear whether they’ll take control of the clubs or the players. There are a lot of unknowns, for me and for everyone else.”
Ražnatović also confirmed that the idea of a brand-new, global basketball league a project in which LeBron James is also involved is very real. “That idea has been around for a while, and we are actively working on it. It would be a completely different kind of league, not based on clubs, but more like Formula 1. If it comes to life, it could shake up both the Euroleague and the NBA, since some players might choose that path instead. But there’s still a lot of work to be done before that happens,” Ražnatović concluded.
Serbia: national team and powerhouses
Ražnatović highlighted that the appointment of head coach Dušan Alimpijević marks the beginning of a completely new era for the Serbian national team. “After many years, we have a fresh face on the national team bench. He’s significantly younger than his predecessors and has been close to the players for a long time. I expect things to look different, that’s why I said this is a new chapter,” Ražnatović explained.
When asked whether youth or experience matters more in coaching, he didn’t hesitate: “I always lean toward younger coaches. Dušan has enough experience to handle any challenge, and his communication with the players will be excellent, there’s no generation gap.”
The veteran agent also raised concerns about player fatigue, emphasizing that the demanding modern schedule leaves little room for rest. “Thirty or forty years ago, guys like Slavnić or Kićanović played maybe 20 to 30 games a season. Today’s players can have as many as 90. It’s simply impossible for them to play for the national team year after year. There’s no ideal solution and that’s bad news for the players. Those who do join the national team face enormous physical strain, which then affects their club seasons. The growing number of injuries says it all.”
Speaking about Donatas Motejunas’ arrival at Red Star, Ražnatović described it as a major boost for the club. “He’s a fantastic addition. Red Star needed experience and a sense of European basketball and Motejunas brings exactly that. Even when he’s not the best player on the floor, his influence in the locker room will be invaluable. Red Star was very fortunate — everyone involved made the right move.”
He also analyzed the transfer activity of Red Star and Partizan this summer: “Red Star is overloaded at the three and four positions, while injuries have hurt their backcourt, creating some imbalance. Partizan, on the other hand, kept the core of its team and didn’t make many changes. It’s a good approach, but we’ll see how it plays out on the court. I see both teams fighting for the play-in or the playoffs. That’s probably their ceiling right now.”