Saša Obradović

Saša Obradović (Anglicized: Sasha Obradovic; Serbian Cyrillic: Саша Обрадовић, pronounced [sâʃa obrǎːdoʋit͜ɕ]; born 29 January 1969) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former player.

Saša Obradović
Obradović with Donetsk in 2012
Personal information
Born (1969-01-29) 29 January 1969
Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height6 ft 5.75 in (1.97 m)
Listed weight94 kg (207 lb)
Career information
NBA draft1991 / Undrafted
Playing career1987–2005
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
Number6, 4, 5
Coaching career2005–present
Career history
As player:
1987–1993Crvena zvezda
1993–1994Limoges
1994Crvena zvezda
1994–1997Alba Berlin
1997–1999Virtus Roma
1999–2000Crvena zvezda
2000–2001Budućnost
2001–2005RheinEnergie Köln
As coach:
2005–2008RheinEnergie Köln
2008–2009Kyiv
2009Turów Zgorzelec
2010–2012Donetsk
2012–2016Alba Berlin
2016–2018Lokomotiv Kuban
2019–2020AS Monaco
2020Crvena zvezda
Career highlights and awards
As player

As head coach

Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
1996 AtlantaTeam
FIBA World Cup
1998 GreeceTeam
FIBA EuroBasket
2001 TurkeyTeam
1999 FranceTeam
1997 SpainTeam
1995 GreeceTeam

Standing at 1.97 m (6 ft 5 1⁄2 in), he played in the guard position for Crvena zvezda, Limoges, Alba Berlin, Virtus Roma, Budućnost, and RheinEnergie Köln. During his playing career, he won FIBA Korać Cup in 1995, three YUBA League championships and a Yugoslav Cup, as well as German League title and three German Cup tournaments.

A Yugoslav international,[note 1] Obradović won three FIBA EuroBasket gold medals (1995, 1997, 2001), and a bronze medal in 1999. He also won the gold medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship and the Olympic silver medal at the 1996 Olympics.

Obradović finished his playing career in 2005 with RheinEnergie Köln. The following season, he became their head coach and won the German League in his rookie season. In the 2011–12 season, he coached Donetsk to their first-ever Ukrainian Super League title. Thereafter, he coached Alba Berlin for four seasons, winning three German Cup tournaments. In 2018 Obradović won the Russian Cup with Lokomotiv Kuban, earning the EuroCup Coach of the Year award.

Playing career

As a professional basketball player, Obradović played for Crvena zvezda, Limoges, Alba Berlin, Virtus Roma, Budućnost Podgorica and RheinEnergie Köln, until his retirement in 2005.

In April 2001, during his time with Budućnost, Obradović got into a fistfight with teammate Milenko Topić, during a practice session, and got suspended by the club.[1] They soon parted ways.

He is cited by former teamnate, Marcin Gortat as his mentor and a figure that helped develop Gortat as a player and person.

National team career

After the lifting of sanctions against FR Yugoslavia, the national team was given the opportunity to qualify for the 1995 FIBA European Championship in Greece through the Additional qualifying round in Sofia, Bulgaria. Obradović had a key role in a 93–87 overtime win over Bulgaria when he scored the team-high 16 points and helped the team to qualify for Championship.[2] Afterwards, he was a member of the national team led by head coach Dušan Ivković that won the gold medal at the 1995 Championship. The team finished the tournament undefeated at 9–0. Over nine tournament games, Obradović averaged 6.3 points, one rebound, and 1.9 assists per game.[3]

Obradović was a member of the national team led by head coach Željko Obradović that won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Yugoslavia lost to the United States in the gold medal game. He recorded his tournament-high with 18 points in a 91–68 win over Australia in the Preliminary round game 2.[4] Over eight tournament games, Obradović averaged 6.2 points, one rebound, and 1.9 assists per game.[5]

Obradović won his second gold medal at the 1997 FIBA European Championship in Spain. Over nine tournament games, he averaged 5.1 points and 2.3 assists per game.[6] The team went on to win their second straight gold medal, defeating Italy in the final game. In the next year, Obradović was a member of the Yugoslavia team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Greece. He scored his tournament-high with 18 points, making 4 threes out of 4, in 19 minutes in a 99–54 win over Japan.[7] Over nine tournament games, he averaged 9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.[8]

Obradović won the bronze medal at the 1999 FIBA European Championship in France averaging 9.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over five tournament games.[9] He missed three all three games in the Knockout stage due to injury. In the next year, Obradović played at his second Olympics. Over seven Olympic tournament games in Australia, he averaged 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.[10]

Obradović was a member of the Yugoslavia team led by head coach Svetislav Pešić that won the gold medal at the 2001 FIBA European Championship in Turkey. It was his third gold medal at European Championships (nowadays known as EuroBasket). The team finished the tournament undefeated at 6–0, defeating Turkey in the final game. Over six tournament games, he averaged 4.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.[11] After the tournament he announced his retirement from international basketball at 32.

Coaching career

Immediately after his retirement as a basketball player, Obradović began his coaching career and was appointed the head coach for RheinEnergie Köln, where he served until 2008. He also coached at Kyiv, Turów Zgorzelec and Donetsk. After coaching those teams, Obradović joined Alba Berlin in 2012.

On 23 May 2016, it was announced that Obradović would leave Alba.[12]

In November 2016, Obradović signed to be the head coach for the Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League.[13] He left Lokomotiv Kuban on 4 November 2018.[14]

In February 2019, Obradović was named the head coach for AS Monaco of the LNB Pro A.[15] In June 2020, he parted ways with Monaco.[16][17][18]

Obradović got his first taste of the NBA through the Summer League coaching stints with the Brooklyn Nets, the Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs.[19]

On 10 June 2020, Crvena zvezda named Obradović as the new head coach.[20][21][22] After having only 5 wins in 16 Euroleague games, he parted ways with Crvena Zvezda on 24 December 2020.[23]

Career awards and achievements

As player:

As head coach:

See also

Notes
  1. Obradović represented then FR Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro) internationally.

References
  1. SASA OBRADOVIC SUSPENDED;BeoBasket, 16 April 2001.
  2. "YUGOSLAVIA vs BULGARIA (Group X)". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. "1995 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. "Game: YUGOSLAVIA vs AUSTRALIA (Group B) - 1996 Olympics". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. "1996 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. "1997 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. "Game: JAPAN vs YUGOSLAVIA (Group B) Date: 31 July 1998". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  8. "1998 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. "1999 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. "2000 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  11. "2011 Yugoslavia #6 - Sasa Obradovic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  12. Basketball: Alba Berlin trennt sich von Trainer Obradovic (in German).
  13. Lokomotiv appoints Obradovic as head coach.
  14. "Obradović napustio Lokose, Vlada Jovanović preuzeo vođstvo". b92.net. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  15. "Obradović i zvanično preuzeo Monako". b92.net. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  16. "Obradović sam platio obeštećenje Monaku da bi preuzeo Zvezdu". novosti.rs. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  17. "Obradović sam platio obeštećenje da dođe u Zvezdu". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  18. "Jeep Élite : Sasa Obradovic quitte Monaco pour l'Étoile Rouge de Belgrade". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  19. "NAŠI TRENERI CENJENI U NBA Velika čast za Milojevića i Obradovića". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  20. "SAŠA OBRADOVIĆ JE TRENER CRVENE ZVEZDE!". kkcrvenazvezda.rs. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  21. "Crvena zvezda mts appoint club legend Saša Obradović as new head coach". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  22. "Zvanično: Zvezda predstavila Obradovića". b92.net. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  23. "Crvena zvezda mts and head coach Saša Obradović part ways". www.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  24. "VELIKO PRIZNANJE Saša Obradović najbolji trener Evrokupa". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
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