Have you ever wondered why Serbians are so successful in both the NBA, the EuroLeague & FIBA? Well, apparently it’s a combination of 4 different factors that Gytis breaks down in this video. From Nikola Jokic type of selfless mentality to a culture of winning that runs through Serbia’s veins. Big thank you to Mozzart Sport journalist Nikola Stojkovic for helping out with this video!
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#NBA #EuroLeague #Basketball
Silver medals in the 2023 World Cup six players in the NBA out of which one has won the MVP twice another is one of the leaders for the Hawks and one is a former Euroleague MVP after that 27 Euroleague players and all the historic achievements prior making me ask this
Why serbians are so good at basketball and of course as a Lithuanian I cannot just give you a straightup answer that’s why I spoke with Serbian basketball journalist Nicola stovich who helped me understand the reasons behind Serbia’s success the first reason that Nola mentioned was genetics I think it’s
Genetics not going to lie it took me by surprise at first but I guess the more you think about it a sufficient Nationwide height is a must for basketball for example take the Philippines people are obsessed with basketball there these guys literally create modified rosters on 2K with their
Whole domestic league but guess what height is just not in their genes so no matter what part of the population is playing basketball only a handful have the right physical tools to achieve high level of course it’s not just about towering over opponents it’s more about that athleticism running through Serbian
Veins you see Serbia isn’t a one sport Wonder it’s a nation where Sports is a way of life tennis football volleyball water polo you name it even looking at basketball players yic was racing horses in his youth MIT was skiing and Heat niol yovic played water polo before he
Ever touch the basketball and then take into account that most of Serbian basketball players parents were probably athletes in one sport or another which kind of means that these athletic abilities like agility or coordination is just in their DNA now let’s talk early exposure Nia told me that it’s
Almost a guarantee that your Serbian parents will hand you a ball of some kind when you’re still a toddler talk about ball is life which I do relate to since in Lithuania it’s also dribbling passing and shooting before you start worrying how to walk also this early
Embrace of the game isn’t just about developing skills it’s about learning to love basketball from early on I guess it reflects on why Serbian fans are so passionate too if you ask a dieh hard seran as vesda or partisan fan why they support that team specifically you’re
Going to hear about their dad or their grandpa or their Uncle it’s literally generational so when we talk about genetics it’s not just about physical attributes it’s a perfect storm of height athleticism early exposure and a cultural Embrace of basketball next up is something nicoa kept repeating throughout our conversation they just
Like to win it’s a fanatical desire you know to win we started winning our desire to win winning the silver medal it’s that unique Serbian mindset that craves victory over anything else before the 2022 Euro basket ni yic laid it out plain and simple we don’t like sports
And basketball we like victories and medals that’s not just a statement about basketball it could be the slogan for Serbian Sports winning isn’t a goal it’s a necessity an obsession that drives every athlete coach and fan and this desire to win isn’t confined to the
Court as the Joker said it’s a way of life I think the motivation is actually becomes your lifestyle of being obsessed with a success winning is a lifestyle and that applies not just to professional basketball players but also simple pickup games in the neighborhood or even a card game this fanatical
Desire to win is something I should really repeat over and over again since it’s so embedded in this nation’s Culture generation to generation creating Serbian athletes who don’t just want to win they need to win however success is not taken for granted in Serbia in fact regardless of this winning mentality their national basketball team has had long stretches of failures in the international competitions which means when they do
Win the celebrations are nuts just look how they greeted the Serbian national team after they came back from the 2023 World Cup with silver [Applause] Medals that’s the kind of support that really fuels that winning mentality when you have the whole nation behind you failure is just not an option also looking a bit deeper every Victory is seen as a testament to hard work and determination which are also things I’ll touch later
On in this video before we get there though Serbian fans listen up do you remember this Nica yic Jersey That was supposed to go out when we hit 75,000 subscribers well it’s it went out but the dress was wrong so it got returned which means that you can get it if you
Just subscribe and tell me down below why do you think serbians are so good at basketball maybe I’ll just pick my favorite comment instead of doing it randomly because as you can see that didn’t work anyhow back to the video to better understand the present we must
Look at the past from humble beginnings back in 1923 to 2023 when the country celebrated A Century of basketball in ser a 100 Years of history that led serbians to become a powerhouse on the international stage Nia first paid his respects to the Pioneers or as he called
It the founding fathers like Bora stankovich Alexander nikolic neboa popovic Radomir shapper and many more these were the architects of what we understand as the Serbian basketball culture today and of course when talking about Serbia we cannot exclude the Yugoslavian era which was kind of their Golden Age beginning in the 19 1960s
Yugoslavia emerged as a basketball Force dominating International competitions and collecting a total of 24 medals out of which eight were gold I guess you can start to understand how that winning mentality was established but when I asked Nica to point out what he thinks were the biggest achievements ever two
Dates came to mind first the 1995 Euro basket were in a nailbiter final versus Lithuania serbians came out on top with the gold [Applause] [Applause] Anyways conquering Europe wasn’t the biggest achievement that crowning Jewel came in the 2002 World Cup where Serbia not only claimed gold versus Argentina but also secured a legendary Victory against the United States in their backyard [Applause] the history between these two countries definitely made it a much bigger deal
And that’s why eliminating the US in the quarterfinals is something every Serbian remembers today where were you on 5th of September of 2012 they will definitely say you know they were watching the game against USA and to beat USA in that in their backyard is something to remember
Since the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991 Serbia won another 12 medals and produced so many great NBA and Euro league players that naming all of them would really be pointless but that leads me to my next point which is Serbian School of basketball let’s try to break
It down a little at the heart of it we find two words hard work that Serbian or perhaps more accurately Yugoslavian work ethic has literally become synonymous with European basketball in general reasons being that a lot of great Balon coaches who were taught basketball there l later pass on that mentality to their
Players who then would become coaches and the cycle continues remember the news of five or six hour long practices in Europe sure some reports were exaggerated but that’s not the point long practices and hard work is something that starts from the youth system and continues into the professional scene it obviously has
Become a topic of discussion in the modern times whether it should change and adapt but you cannot argue with the results and the level of talent coming from Serbia every year to add to that some Serbian players have stated before that they felt overtrained when they eventually moved to countries like Spain
And saw what the basketball culture is like there another thing is what’s being prioritized from early on while in the United States the emphasis is on the individual and their skills Serbian basketball is all about team’s needs and doing the right thing to achieve the win in other words Serbian players have been
Brought up to be selfless on the court and stats is something of no significance when you have a line that’s never been accomplished before in finals history what do you think of that to be honest I just think it’s a win you know to be honest I don’t care it’s just it’s
Just a stat and I’m not just talking about yic because this is the mentality of Serbian players who first think what do I need to do for the team to win and not why am I not getting the ball enough whether it’s the club or the national team nobody’s bothered by fewer minutes
Or a limited role as long as the team wins lastly selflessness does not end with the offense but also extends to defense it is the backbone of Serbian basketball not an afterthought but the starting point your team needs you to make a smart foul to stop the break you
Take it without questions asked obviously lockdown defense is not unique to just Serbia but believe me that’s something that’s both emphasized and utilized to a great extent take serenus vesda for example it historically has been one of of the best defensive teams in the Euroleague that use defensive
Effort to compensate for the lack of offensive Talent now guess what all those things that I mentioned when talking about the Serbian School of basketball comes down to one thing the desire to win no matter what and that’s my biggest takeaway from the discussion I had with Nia and all the research I
Did on Serbian basketball this country is just obsessed with winning and that’s the true driver of their success let me know in the comments if you guys agree with these reasons why serbians are so good at basketball also I’d like to hear your suggestions of which countries I
Should break down next like this video subscribe and I’ll see you in the next one
48 Comments
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I always think about what would happen if Yugoslavia would stay together. Just in basketball, their team would be unbeatable. Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia.. nobody has a chance in team sports. Not even USA..
For a long time Serbia had good "middle-class talents" for NBA or euroleague. But now with Jokic, Bogdanovic and bunch of other guys Serbia is most talented european basketball country
they are good cause they have been so god damn good!
I love your content, it inspired me to make my own european styles basketball videos. I think serbians are so good because they need to keep up with their horses, in order for them to get the respect needed for racing. 😂
Why Filipinos doesn't have any success with basketball
next vid please
Serbians are so good because they don't waste time ironing clothes – they train basketball instead.
As a children of parents from the balkan i can say that motivation is a big part of the serbian player's success. Serbia or the balkan in general isn't known for their strong economics, so not everybody there has the opportunities to become a doctor or other jobs. Due to the popularity of sports its stucking in the heads of many kids to become a great player and make money from sports.
spanish are better
They are great, but Slovenia beats them quite often, 4 times in the past 5 games. Off course they have way more medals…
There is something called INAT, that other nations dont have. Simple as that
Albanians *
Imo main reason for this success. Playing the right way is more important than winning itself. Teaching this mentality to young players is the key to unlocking long term success.
As serbian i hate to lose and we are all competitive
Having only played in a Serbian team (as a non Serbian) my enitre youth career it has taught me some important lessons and a way of playing which isn't like the others. Following not the norm is what makes the Serbians so successful
Because we can 😃
They are not …few basketball players yes
In my opinion, Firstly, going to the Hala Pionir (Aleksandar Nikolic) or at the Beogradska arena for a basketball game, for Zvezda or Partizan, it doesn't really matter, you will fall in love with the game.
Secondly, the maestros of the game will always inspire the next generation. To name few, for my father generation Bodiroga was the guy, for mine Stojakovic, Teodosic, Bulut, Jokic. Then, kids can easily identify players from their own country.
To finish, there is a point I disagree, serbian players are unselfish not because of the obsession of winning, but because this is the correct way of playing the game.
its the height. they re not elite in any other sport
your take on The Philippines is absolutely 100% right.
Because there are basketball courts every 200 m in all the bigger cities in Serbia.
Where I grew up, there are 5 courts within 500m of the building we lived in.
There are outdoor and indoor courts in every school, everyone is playing from very early on.
Both former and active players are revered and held in high esteem.
Basketball is something we grow up with, just like reading and writing.
Cheers
As an outsider looking in, it seems the real answer is 3 things – selflessness, work ethic and coaching. Serbians play as a unit and it shows. Hope they win gold in the Olympics one day. Very underrated style of play.
WHY AMERICAN EUROPEANS CANT EVOLVE IN BASKETBALL 😂😂😂😂….. THE BROTHERS WILL BEAT THE BRAKES OFF THEM ……JOKER PLAYS WITH BROTHERS NOT AMERICAN WHITEMEN REMEMBER THAT BEFORE YOU PUMP UP A SERBIAN OVER AMERICANS 🤡
To answer your question about what the reason why Serbians are so good at basketball is, I'd have to say it's a mixture of many things, as your interviewee Nikola said. At the professional level, that innate hunger for victory over anything and the passion for the sport are very prevalent in Serbian players. Generally speaking though, it's the "basketball is everywhere you go" kind of thing. Almost every kid here in Serbia has played basketball or football at some point, either just for fun, or they try out for teams and train there. Growing up here, I couldn't help but play both, even though tennis is my main sport. We're just a nation where sports are an integral part of our upbringing, and basketball happens to be one of the most beloved ones.
By the way, with my last name being Jokic, I'd rock that Denver 15 jersey proudly.
I enjoy all of your videos, but this one especially struck a chord with me.
Thank you, Gytis.
🏀🏀🏀
😂😂😂
Yet they've won nothing.
Good video.
I read that kidd learn every position in court. I thinks that is important.
Probably cause they practice the fundamentals of basketball
Pete Maravich is of Serbian decent. He is the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game
Pete Maravich – Wikipedia
I am from Russia and my basketball coach is Serbian. He is exactly like you said. One day I didn't come to the game without warning and He said that's a crime in their country XD. I really love Serbians and how tough they are. And I learned a lot of stuff besides basketball❤
Very nice video, congrats. You should also bring why Lithuanians also are successful and the whole nation has a big love of basketball.
Not until Serbia wins the Olympic Gold Medal in 🏀.
Serbians are high IQ basketball player
No man. It should be "Why balkan countries are so good in basketball?"
I’ve heard people say it’s because they’re one of the tallest countries on average in the world and it’s incorrect, the Netherlands has the highest height average in the world, and 0 success within and outside of Europe, never even came close to winning a European title. The only Dutch player worth naming is Rik Smits
Serbians are good at basketball cause Croatia gave them permission to be.
Philippines is a basketball country but we dont celebrate wins as passionate as you do guys.. Its amazing getting a silver and then celebrate like you won the gold.. Hahaha.. nothing but love and respect!
for as long as the Philippines basketball program is full of crap and politicking i dont see our country in the big stage for the next 10 years..
They have a lot in common with America when it comes to sports. We get balls shoved in our faces too.
i am serbian and i can tell you this guys do not give up man. They had whole nation on their backs they just knew, they are not going home without a medal.And i just wana say congrats to this guys what they did there and thats it we will see you in olympics ajmooo!!!!!!
Yep it’s Genetics , Balkan Madness and hard work for generations…
Also don’t forget their background , with communism and the war !
“when the situation becomes difficult, strong people are able to step up and handle it”!!!
As a diehard Nuggets and basketball fan, I could tell Jokic was the best player in the world by 2018/2019. While everything mentioned makes sense, what stands out most to me is the quick hands, quick second jump, and amazing touch. I’ve heard water polo has a lot to do with this, but I’m curious what else has to do with such elite fast twitch muscle reactions? Black Americans and Hispanics are faster and jump higher, but the fine tuned quickness is why jokic makes everyone look silly.
I hope I win the jersey. I just bought my brother a jokic jersey last month, but need one myself. Subscribing now!
It is because Serbian's value winning, and the winning way is not always the way most players play.
They are good at it because of the important s the parent and community puts on it. In America under 9 most sports don't even keep score. Don't want to hurt Johnnies feelings. America has lost the thirst to be the best.
you see similar, outsized talent relative to population level in other ex-yugolavia countries, but sometimes not in basketball. Serbia is outstanding in basketball but relatively behind others like Croatia in Handball and Football.
Their SPORT education is the best not only in the Europe, but generally in the world. The learn to their children how important is NOT to lose, the winning mentallity is not only about the game. They are the best country in ball sports. I cant explain why and how they start it but for sure the education and the winning mentallity is the reason.
In Serbia basketball its not just a sport, its a way of life. If you go in a Serbian village there will be at least one basketball court and this also includes the big cities.
Serbia and former Yugoslavia in general. Slovenia, Croatia and the others are also really good.
Its the vodka!!!😂😂