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Since the end of the Olympic Games in Paris, Serbia has been holding its breath waiting for one decision: According to Meridian Sport, the best basketball player in the world is close to making that decision. And fans in Serbia have reason to be optimistic. Jokić is expected to soon give an official nod to the invitation from head coach Svetislav Pešić, with whom he has already spoken. The plan is for the Serbian team—with the world’s best player—to go for European gold.
The 31-year-old Serbian guard has agreed to join Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, the Israeli club announced. According to Nadav Zenziper, Micic agreed to a 3-year, €18 million ($20.9 million) deal that will make the Serbian guard one of the best-paid players in the league's history.
Real Madrid has presented a lucrative two-year offer to former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micić, who is now seriously considering a return to Europe with the Spanish giants, according to Eurohoops sources. The Serbian guard recently agreed to a buyout with the Milwaukee Bucks — who acquired him in the massive seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston — returning $6.1 million of his $8.1 million contract for the 2025–26 season.
Vasilije Micic is reportedly close to joining Olympiacos, according to Sportando. The Serbian star is expected to sign after key talks with coach Bartzokas in recent days. Micic had a €18 million offer over three seasons from Hapoel Tel Aviv, a deal that would have made him Europe’s highest-paid player. Fenerbahce also pursued him before stepping back.
According to Goran Grbović, director of Stark Arena, EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga pushed for Belgrade to host the 2026 Final Four. The final vote is expected on July 22. Athens’ OAKA Arena remains a contender, but Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos’ behavior may influence clubs to vote against it.
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Nikola Jokic is expected to join Serbia in the upcoming 2025 EuroBasket. According to Meridian, Jokic is close to making the decision and officially accept the invitation of Serbia head coach Svetislav Pesic to become a member of the national team for a second straight summer.
According to Gazzetta, Tristan Vukcevic — who was eligible to represent Italy (his birthplace, Siena), Sweden (his mother’s homeland), Greece (where he grew up and developed as a player), and Serbia (his father’s country) — has ultimately chosen to play for the Serbian national team. Vukcevic averaged 9.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in just 14.6 minutes per game last season with the Wizards.
Anadolu Efes has officially appointed Serbian coach Igor Kokoskov as the club’s new head coach, signing him to a three-year contract. Kokoskov arrives in Istanbul after spending the past season as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under Quin Snyder. The experienced tactician has coached multiple national teams, including Georgia, Serbia, and most notably Slovenia, whom he led to the EuroBasket title in 2017.
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Sam Presti: We have people from Canada, Serbia, the West Coast, the East Coast, middle America, France, Australia, that all come together for a collective goal. There's compassion on the team. There's a cowboy toughness, a self-reliance that comes from being homegrown, and an essential sense of goodness. If that sounds familiar, that's because those are the same things that have been in Oklahoma for generations. I think the thing to recognize is that the team is really just a reflection of the state. I think the team itself resonates with the people here because it really is them looking at what makes living here special and unique.
Priority Sports: Jabari Parker has signed a two-year deal with @PartizanBC, which includes NBA outs. 🇷🇸
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