The 2017 Serbia EuroBasket team represented Serbia and won the silver medal at the EuroBasket 2017 in Helsinki (Finland), Tel Aviv (Israel), Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Istanbul (Turkey). They were automatically qualified for the EuroBasket by taking the 4th place in EuroBasket 2015. The team was coached by Aleksandar Đorđević, with assistant coaches Miroslav Nikolić, Milan Minić and Jovica Antonić.
The EuroBasket 2017 was the 40th edition of the EuroBasket championship that is organized by FIBA Europe.
Timeline June 19: 25-man roster announced July 3: 17-man roster announcement July 20: Gathering of the players in Belgrade July 23: Start of a training camp on Kopaonik mountain August 6: The end of the training camp August 11–25: Exhibition games August 31 – September 17: EuroBasket 2017
Roster 25 players called up Other than guard Stefan Marković—who had announced his retirement from international basketball after the 2016 Olympics at the age of 28—each player from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics silver-winning team was also included on the 25-man preliminary roster for EuroBasket 2017. The upcoming EuroBasket would thus mark the first time that the Serbian national team is without Stefan Marković at a major tournament since Serbia went independent in 2006.
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Nemanja Bjelica was included on the 25-man roster, despite a left foot injury he had sustained in March 2017, which made him unavailable to join the team. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić announced on July 3 that he would not be showing up at the training camp, citing his desire to prepare for the following NBA season. In addition to Bjelica and Jokić who were unavailable due to injury or personal reasons, six more players were cut by head coach Đorđević: Nikola Milutinov, Nemanja Dangubić, Ognjen Jaramaz, Ognjen Dobrić, Aleksa Radanov, and Dejan Davidovac.
17 players at the training camp On July 29, with the 17-player training camp already under way for some ten days, the first one to drop out was Marko Simonović due to injuring his right thumb.
On August 17, head coach Aleksandar Đorđević announced that center Miroslav Raduljica would not be able to play at the championship, due to a knee injury.
Three days later, on August 20, head coach Đorđević announced that team captain Miloš Teodosić would also be unable to continue, due to a chronic thigh injury. Power forward Milan Mačvan was selected as a new team captain due to Teodosić's inability to play at the EuroBasket.
On August 29, it was announced that Nemanja Nedović and Nikola Kalinić wouldn't be able to participate at the championships, due to injuries.
Final 12-man roster The members of Serbia roster at the 2016 Summer Olympics guards Bogdan Bogdanović, Stefan Jović, forwards Stefan Birčević, Milan Mačvan and center Vladimir Štimac are coming back to EuroBasket roster, while guards forwards Branko Lazić, Marko Gudurić and Vladimir Lučić make senior men's debut with the Serbian national team, at a major international tournament. Center Boban Marjanović makes the first appearance at a major tournament since the EuroBasket 2011 while guard Vasilije Micić previously played at the EuroBasket 2013. Guard Dragan Milosavljević and center Ognjen Kuzmić made their debuts at the EuroBasket 2015.
The following were candidates to make the team: +Earlier candidatesPlayer Team Added Removed Reason Denver Nuggets Withdrew Minnesota Timberwolves Injured Olympiacos 17-man roster cut Crvena zvezda Mega Bemax Crvena zvezda FMP FMP Crvena zvezda Injured Olimpia Milano Injured CSKA Moscow Injured Unicaja 12-man roster cut Fenerbahçe
Notes
Depth chart
Staff
Position Staff member Age Team Head coach 49 Bayern MunichAssistant coaches 61 Partizan 51 62 Team manager 49 Crvena zvezda Conditioning coaches 32 Bayern Munich 32 Scouts 50 Vršac Physician Physiotherapists Vršac Equipment Manager Press Officer Source: KSS
Exhibition games The Serbia roster has begun its exhibition schedule against Serbian University team on August 2, 2017. They had participated at the 2017 Belgrade Trophy (August 11–13) together with Greece and Montenegro, then at the SupercupNBA-Stars im Inselpark DBB Supercup 2017 in Hamburg, Germany (August 17–20) with Germany, Poland and Russia. Last games were at the 2017 Acropolis of Athens Tournament where they played together with Greece, Italy and Georgia from August 23–25.Ακρόπολις EUROBANK: Τα τελευταία τεστ θα γίνουν στο ΟΑΚΑ
Serbia played nine exhibition games. Had just one lost. The Serbia roster won the Belgrade Trophy and the Hamburg Supercup and came the second at the Acropolis of Athens.
Kraljevo game
Belgrade Trophy
Supercup Hamburg
Acropolis of Athens
Tournament
Preliminary round
All times are local (UTC+3)
Latvia
Russia
Turkey
Great Britain
Belgium
Knockout stage
Round of 16 Serbia made the early running before Hungary fought back nearing half-time and the second-half was a near mirror image. Hungary got within 7 points early in the fourth but Serbia steadied, with their dominance on the inside too much for Hungary to handle. Hungary made a comeback bid in the last quarter getting the margin to within 7 points with 8 minutes left after hitting consecutive threes. However, a pretty penetration and dish by Stefan Jović to Milan Mačvan steadied things for Serbia before Boban Marjanović scored four quick points to snuff out Hungary's challenge. Ognjen Kuzmić was a handful for Hungary all game and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a commanding performance. Serbia's size was too much for Hungary and that showed on the glass with their 37-23 domination in rebounds.
Quarterfinals Serbia outscored Italy 26-16 in a dominant second quarter to take command of the contest. Italy appeared set to stage a comeback midway through the fourth, getting within 8 points, but Bogdan Bogdanović hit a three and scored another bucket on the next possession to steady Serbia. Serbia took full advantage of their size advantage by dominating on the boards to convincingly win the rebounds 44-19. Bogdanović struggled in the opening three quarters scoring just 8 points, including 0-of-7 from three. However, he came alive in the fourth to ensure Serbia would not have any nervous moments.
Semifinals It was a game of spurts with momentum swinging wildly within minutes. Russia trailed for much of the game by double digits before getting within 2 points midway through the fourth. Aleksey Shved missed a wide open deep three for the lead, only for Vasilije Micić to connect from deep at the other end. It gave the momentum to Serbia and they hung on from there. With the towering Boban Marjanović, Serbia absolutely dominated in the paint, despite Russia having no shortage of size themselves. Serbia won the battle down-low, outscoring Russia 44-22 in the paint. Serbia led for most of the game through a 14-0 run in the second quarter. However, the game took several turns as Russia would not give up. With Shved scoring in spurts, Russia fought right back getting it to a single possession game until Serbia steadied late.
Final
Awards All-Tournament Team Bogdan Bogdanović
Statistics Legend GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game FG% Field-goal percentage 3FG% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game EF PIR per game Player 9 7 10.6 .375 .429 1.00 2.2 .4 .3 .1 3.4 2.4 9 9 31.8 .474 .292 .825 3.6 5.0 1.2 .1 19.9 20.4 8 0 10.6 .611 .364 .750 .6 .8 .5 .1 3.8 3.6 9 9 22.2 .545 .333 .500 2.4 5.4 1.8 .3 12.2 6.4 9 9 17.6 .489 .000 .692 5.1 1.3 .1 .8 9.7 7.1 6 0 6.0 .333 .000 1.00 .5 .5 .1 .0 1.3 .7 9 9 27.0 .500 .476 .636 5.6 1.1 1.1 .1 12.7 8.9 9 0 16.2 .562 .000 .870 4.8 1.4 .2 .3 13.4 12.4 9 2 26.1 .500 .292 .957 4.0 2.7 .3 .1 12.7 10.8 9 0 12.9 .333 .300 .750 1.7 1.3 .3 .0 3.6 2.4 9 0 16.6 .433 .286 .727 2.2 .8 .3 .1 5.0 4.9 8 0 6.4 .435 .000 .500 2.3 .3 .1 .0 3.3 3.1Total 9 9 200.0 .487 .329 .771 38.6 20.8 6.4 2.2 99.7 82.3
Statistical leaders Individual game highs
Statistic Name Total OpponentPoints Bogdan Bogdanović 30 Total Rebounds Milan MačvanOgnjen Kuzmić 10 Assists Stefan JovićBogdan Bogdanović 9 Blocks Ognjen Kuzmić 2 Steals Bogdan Bogdanović 5 Efficiency Bogdan Bogdanović 28 Field goal percentage Bogdan Bogdanović 83% (5/6) 2-point field goal percentage Stefan Jović 100% (4/4) 3-point field goal percentage Bogdan Bogdanović 100% (3/3) Free throw percentage Boban MarjanovićDragan Milosavljević 100% (6/6) Turnovers Bogdan BogdanovićBoban Marjanović 4 Minutes Vladimir Lučić 35:02
Statistic Name Total OpponentField goals made Bogdan BogdanovićBogdan BogdanovićBogdan Bogdanović 9 (SF)Field goals attempted Bogdan Bogdanović 21 2-point field goals made Boban Marjanović 8 2-point field goals attempted Boban Marjanović 12 3-point field goals made Bogdan BogdanovićBogdan BogdanovićBogdan BogdanovićStefan JovićBogdan BogdanovićBogdan Bogdanović 3 (SF)3-point field goals attempted Bogdan Bogdanović 11 Free throws made Boban Marjanović 11 Free throws attempted Boban Marjanović 13 Offensive Rebounds Ognjen Kuzmić 6 Defensive Rebounds Vasilije Micić 8 +/- Bogdan Bogdanović 26
Team game highs
Statistic Total OpponentPoints 92 Total Rebounds 46 Assists 27 Blocks 4 Steals 11 Efficiency 114 Field goal percentage 63% (32/51) 2-point field goal percentage 70% (26/37) (SF)3-point field goal percentage 46% (6/13) Free throw percentage 90% (26/29) Turnovers 16
Statistic Total OpponentField goals made 33 (SF)Field goals attempted 72 2-point field goals made 26 (SF)2-point field goals attempted 53 3-point field goals made 10 3-point field goals attempted 28 Free throws made 30 Free throws attempted 40 Offensive Rebounds 19 Defensive Rebounds 30 +/- 20
References
External links Official website EuroBasket 2017 profile