By Kostas Giataganas/ info@eurohoops.net
Coach Alexandar Djordjevic is synonymous with the Serbian national team. He was the captain as a player and this is the first time that he missed the semifinals as a coach.
The Serbs are one of the powerhouses of FIBA basketball and the heirs of Yugoslavian tradition. Under Djordjevic and point guard Milos Teodosic, who was missing in this tournament due to injury, Serbia won three medals in FIBA World Cup, Eurobasket, and the Olympic Games.
Now the best-case scenario for Serbia is the 5th spot in the final standings and of course the Serbs want to take their revenge in the Olympics.
SERBIA’S POSITION IN MAJOR FIBA TOURNAMENTS UNDER DJORDJEVIC
| Year | Competition | Position |
| 2014 | World Cup | 2nd |
| 2015 | Eurobasket | 4th |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | 2nd |
| 2017 | Eurobasket | 2nd |