Slovenia men's national basketball team explained

Country:Slovenia
Coach:Aleksander Sekulić
Joined Fiba:1992
Fiba Zone:FIBA Europe
National Fed:KZS
Oly Appearances:1
Wc Appearances:4
Zone Championship:EuroBasket
Zone Appearances:14
Zone Medals: Gold: (2017)
H Body:1E90FF
H Pattern B:_adidas19whiteK
H Pattern S:_adidaswhite
H Shorts:1E90FF
A Pattern B:_adidas19onwhiteK
A Pattern S:_adidasonwhite
A Body:1E90FF
A Shorts:1E90FF
First Game: 83–54
(Bilbao, Spain; 22 June 1992)
Largest Win: 122–67
(Wrocław, Poland; 1 June 1993)
Largest Loss: 76–119
(Barcelona, Spain; 9 September 2014)

The Slovenia men's national basketball team (Slovenian: Slovenska košarkarska reprezentanca) represents Slovenia in international basketball competitions, and is managed by the Basketball Federation of Slovenia. Since the independence of Slovenia in 1991, the national team has competed at every EuroBasket, and reached the knockout stage at every championship since 2005. Their greatest achievement overall at the tournament came at EuroBasket 2017, where they won all nine games and became European champions.

As of August 2024, Slovenia is ranked 11th in the FIBA World Ranking.

History

Before Slovenia's independence in 1991, Slovenian players represented Yugoslavia. Slovenia joined the International Basketball Federation in 1992 and played its first official game on 22 June 1992 against Bulgaria in the qualification rounds for the 1992 Summer Olympics.[1]

FIBA World Cup

Slovenia debuted at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2006 after qualifying as the sixth-placed team of the EuroBasket 2005.[2] In the 2010, 2014 and 2023 editions, Slovenia reached the quarter-finals; their highest overall finish is seventh place, achieved in 2014 and 2023.[3]

EuroBasket

Between May and June 1993, Slovenia competed in the qualifiers for the EuroBasket 1993, where the team won all seven games and therefore qualified for its first EuroBasket.[4] At the main tournament, held in Germany, Slovenia finished in 14th place out of 16 teams with one win and two defeats.[5]

Slovenia did not reach the knockout stages of the competition until the 2005 edition, where the team, coached by Aleš Pipan, reached the quarter-finals for the first time.[2] In 2009, Slovenia reached the semi-finals for the first time after eliminating Croatia in the quarter-finals with a 67–65 victory. In the semi-finals, Slovenia lost to Serbia after overtime, and later to Greece in the third place game, finishing the competition in fourth place.[6] In the next two tournaments, in 2011 and 2013, Slovenia was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain and France, respectively. In 2015, Slovenia failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2003 edition after losing to Latvia in the round of 16.[7] At EuroBasket 2017, Slovenia, captained by Goran Dragić and managed by Igor Kokoškov, won the championship after winning nine consecutive games, including victories against the 2013 winners France and the 2015 winners Spain.[8] Dragić, who scored 35 points in the final against Serbia, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.[9]

2020 Summer Olympics

See main article: article and 2020 Slovenia men's Olympic basketball team. Slovenia qualified for the men's basketball tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics after competing in the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, winning the tournament in Kaunas. They won all games in the Group B, defeating Poland and Angola.[10] [11] In the Final round, they defeated Venezuela 98–70, and qualified for the final against Lithuania. Slovenia defeated Lithuania 96–85 in Kaunas, led by Luka Dončić (31 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists), who with his triple-double sent Slovenia to their first Olympic appearance.[12] Dončić was also proclaimed as the MVP of the tournament.[12]

At the Olympics, Slovenia was drawn in the group with the host Japan, Argentina, and reigning world champion Spain. In the opening game, they beat Argentina 118–100.[13] With his 48 points in this game, Dončić tied with Eddie Palubinskas for the second highest points scored in a match in the history of the Olympics.[14] In the next game Slovenia defeated host Japan 116–81.[15] In the final match of the group stage, Slovenia faced Spain, the reigning world champions, and beat them 95–87.[16] Mike Tobey, who was named player of the day by FIBA,[17] recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Klemen Prepelič scored the crucial three-pointer that put Slovenia ahead 86–85 two and a half minutes before the end.[18]

The win gave them the group's top seed, and they were set to face Germany in the quarter-finals.[19] Slovenia won their quarter-final, defeating Germany 94–70.[20] Slovenia then lost the dramatic semi-final against France by one point, 90–89. In the last seconds of the game, Nicolas Batum blocked Prepelič's layup attempt, thus preventing Slovenia from reaching the final.[21] In the bronze medal game, Slovenia played against Australia, and lost 107–93.[22] Thus, the team finished its inaugural Olympic tournament in fourth place, and Dončić was selected in the All-Star Team of the tournament.[23]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

World CupQualification
YearPositionwidth=30width=30width=30width=30width=30width=30
1950 to 1990Part of YugoslaviaPart of Yugoslavia
1994Did not qualifyEuroBasket served
as qualifiers
1998
2002
20069th624
20108th954
20147th752
2019Did not qualify1239
20237th8531275
2027To be determinedTo be determined
Total301713241014

Olympic Games

Olympic GamesQualifying
YearPositionwidth=30width=30width=30width=30width=30width=30
1936 to 1988Part of YugoslaviaPart of Yugoslavia
1992Did not qualify1174
1996Qualifiers not held
2000
2004
2008321
2012Did not qualify
2016
20204th642440
2024Did not qualify312
Total64221147

EuroBasket

EuroBasketQualification
YearPositionwidth=30width=30width=30width=30width=30width=30
1935 to 1991Part of YugoslaviaPart of Yugoslavia
199314th312770
199512th624651
199714th5141073
199910th6241091
200115th3121091
200310th4221073
20056th642651
20077th963Directly qualified
20094th963
20117th1165
20135th1174Qualified as host
201512th633Directly qualified
2017bgcolor=goldbgcolor=gold9bgcolor=gold9bgcolor=gold0 660
20226th752642
2025To be determinedTo be determined
Total95 55 40 71 59 12

Record against other teams at World Cup

Last updated: 9 September 2023[24]

Record against other teams at EuroBasket

Last updated: 14 September 2022[24]

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[25]

Head coaches

Since 1992, the Slovenia national team has been managed by a total of twelve head coaches. Zmago Sagadin and Jure Zdovc are the only coaches with more than one spell.

1990s and 2000s
YearsNameAchievements
1992Zmago Sagadin
1993Janez Drvarič1993 EuroBasket (14th place)
1994–1995Zmago Sagadin1995 EuroBasket (12th place)
1996–1998Andrej Urlep1997 EuroBasket (14th place)
1998–2001Boris Zrinski1999 EuroBasket (10th place)
2001 EuroBasket (15th place)
2002–2003Slobodan Subotić2003 EuroBasket (10th place)
2004–2008Aleš Pipan2005 EuroBasket (6th place)
2006 World Cup (9th place)
2007 EuroBasket (7th place)
2009Jure Zdovc2009 EuroBasket (4th place)
2010s and 2020s
YearsNameAchievements
2010Memi Bečirovič2010 World Cup (8th place)
2011–2013Božidar Maljković2011 EuroBasket (7th place)
2013 EuroBasket (5th place)
2014–2015Jure Zdovc2014 World Cup (7th place)
2015 EuroBasket (12th place)
2016–2017Igor Kokoškov2017 EuroBasket (Champions)
2017–2020Rado Trifunović
2020–presentAleksander Sekulić2020 Summer Olympics (4th place)
2022 EuroBasket (6th place)
2023 World Cup (7th place)

Statistics

Players in bold are still active with Slovenia.

Most appearances

No.NameYearsCaps
1Goran Dragić2006–202290
2Edo Murić2011–89
3Jaka Lakovič2001–201386
4Jaka Blažič2013–80
5Uroš Slokar2005–201576
6Goran Jagodnik1997–201175
Zoran Dragić2011–75
8Marijan Kraljević1992–200373
9Klemen Prepelič2014–69
10Jaka Daneu1992–199967
Boris Gorenc1992–200367
12Marko Tušek1993–200463
13Ivica Jurković1996–200461
Žiga Dimec2016–61
15Marko Milič1994–200659
16Boštjan Nachbar1999–201358
17Aleksej Nikolić2014–54
18Jure Zdovc1992–200053
19Teoman Alibegović1992–200052
Rasho Nesterović1995–200852
Sani Bečirović1998–201052

As of 7 July 2024. Statistics include official competitive matches only.[24]

Top scorers

No.NameYearsPointsCapsPoints per game
1Goran Dragić2006–20221,09590
2Teoman Alibegović1992–200099052
3Luka Dončić2017–93841
4Jaka Lakovič2001–201388086
5Klemen Prepelič2014–86169
6Jure Zdovc1992–2000755 53
7Zoran Dragić2011–74275
8Jaka Blažič2013–70780
9Boštjan Nachbar1999–201362758
10Boris Gorenc1992–200362067
11Slavko Kotnik1992–199560538
Marko Milič1994–200660559
13Sani Bečirovič1998–201055152
14Rasho Nesterović1995–200853052
15Marko Tušek1993–200449163
16Ivica Jurković1996–200448861
17Edo Murić2011–47589
18Matjaž Smodiš1999–201141651
19Mike Tobey2021–202440532
20Erazem Lorbek2004–201138234
Primož Brezec1998–201038249

As of 7 July 2024. Statistics include official competitive matches only.[24]

Past rosters

1993 EuroBasket

finished 14th among 16 teams

4 Roman Horvat, 5 Marko Tušek, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Darko Mirt, 8 Primoz Bačar, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Boštjan Leban, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Boris Gorenc, 13 Marijan Kraljević, 14 Slavko Kotnik, 15 Žarko Durisić (Coach: Janez Drvarič)----1995 EuroBasket

finished 12th among 14 teams

4 Roman Horvat, 5 Matjaž Tovornik, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Walter Jeklin, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Boris Gorenc, 14 Slavko Kotnik, 15 Aleš Kunc (Coach: Zmago Sagadin)----1997 EuroBasket

finished 14th among 16 teams

4 Walter Jeklin, 5 Goran Jagodnik, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Radoslav Nesterović, 8 Aleš Kunc, 9 Jure Zdovc, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Teoman Alibegović, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Boris Gorenc, 14 Ivica Jurković, 15 Radovan Trifunović (Coach: Andrej Urlep)----1999 EuroBasket

finished 10th among 16 teams

4 Jure Zdovc, 5 Walter Jeklin, 6 Jaka Daneu, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Matjaž Tovornik, 10 Matjaž Smodiš, 11 Goran Jagodnik, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Radoslav Nesterović, 15 Ervin Dragsič (Coach: Boris Zrinski)----2001 EuroBasket

finished 15th among 16 teams

4 Beno Udrih, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Boris Gorenc, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Matjaž Smodiš, 10 Marko Tušek, 11 Goran Jagodnik, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Ariel McDonald, 15 Radoslav Nesterović (Coach: Boris Zrinski)----2003 EuroBasket

finished 10th among 16 teams

4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Boris Gorenc, 7 Simon Petrov, 8 Marijan Kraljević, 9 Boštjan Nachbar, 10 Slavko Duščak, 11 Marko Tušek, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Ivica Jurković, 14 Jurica Golemac, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Slobodan Subotić)----2005 EuroBasket

finished 6th among 16 teams

4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Aleksandar Ćapin, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Nebojša Joksimović, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Erazem Lorbek, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Marko Maravič, 14 Uroš Slokar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Aleš Pipan)----2006 FIBA World Cup

finished 9th among 24 teams

4 Goran Jurak, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Sašo Ožbolt, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Beno Udrih, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Željko Zagorac, 12 Marko Milič, 13 Goran Dragić, 14 Uroš Slokar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Aleš Pipan)----2007 EuroBasket

finished 7th among 16 teams

4 Sandi Čebular, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Aleksandar Ćapin, 7 Goran Dragić, 8 Radoslav Nesterović, 9 Matjaž Smodiš, 10 Uroš Slokar, 11 Jaka Klobučar, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Aleš Pipan)----2009 EuroBasket

finished 4th among 16 teams

4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič, 6 Samo Udrih, 7 Primož Brezec, 8 Matjaž Smodiš (C), 9 Jaka Klobučar, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Jurica Golemac, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Jure Zdovc)----2010 FIBA World Cup

finished 8th among 24 teams

4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Hasan Rizvić, 7 Sani Bečirović, 8 Jaka Klobučar, 9 Samo Udrih, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Miha Zupan, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Primož Brezec (Coach: Memi Bečirović)----2011 EuroBasket

finished 7th among 24 teams

4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Luka Rupnik, 7 Sašo Ožbolt, 8 Matjaž Smodiš, 9 Samo Udrih, 10 Edo Murić, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Goran Jagodnik, 13 Zoran Dragić, 14 Mirza Begić, 15 Erazem Lorbek (Coach: Božidar Maljković)----2013 EuroBasket

finished 5th among 24 teams

4 Uroš Slokar, 5 Jaka Lakovič (C), 6 Jure Balažič, 7 Nebojša Joksimović, 8 Edo Murić, 9 Jaka Blažič, 10 Boštjan Nachbar, 11 Goran Dragić, 12 Zoran Dragić, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 15 Mirza Begić (Coach: Božidar Maljković)----2014 FIBA World Cup

finished 7th among 24 teams

4 Jure Balažič, 5 Uroš Slokar, 6 Aleksej Nikolić, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 8 Edo Murić, 9 Jaka Blažič, 10 Miha Zupan, 11 Goran Dragić (C), 12 Zoran Dragić, 13 Domen Lorbek, 14 Jaka Klobučar, 15 Alen Omić (Coach: Jure Zdovc)----2015 EuroBasket

finished 12th among 24 teams

1 Nebojša Joksimović, 5 Luka Rupnik, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 9 Jaka Blažič, 10 Mitja Nikolić, 12 Zoran Dragić, 13 Miha Zupan, 15 Jure Balažič (C), 17 Saša Zagorac, 23 Alen Omić, 24 Jaka Klobučar, 55 Uroš Slokar (Coach: Jure Zdovc)----2017 EuroBasket

finished 1st among 24 teams

0 Anthony Randolph, 1 Matic Rebec, 3 Goran Dragić (C) & (MVP), 6 Aleksej Nikolić, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 8 Edo Murić, 9 Jaka Blažič, 14 Gašper Vidmar, 17 Saša Zagorac, 22 Žiga Dimec, 31 Vlatko Čančar, 77 Luka Dončić (Coach: Igor Kokoškov)----2020 Olympic Games

finished 4th among 12 teams

5 Luka Rupnik, 6 Aleksej Nikolić, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 8 Edo Murić (C), 10 Mike Tobey, 11 Jaka Blažič, 15 Gregor Hrovat, 27 Žiga Dimec, 30 Zoran Dragić, 31 Vlatko Čančar, 55 Jakob Čebašek, 77 Luka Dončić (Coach: Aleksander Sekulić)----2022 EuroBasket

finished 6th among 24 teams

3 Goran Dragić (C), 4 Žiga Samar, 5 Luka Rupnik, 6 Aleksej Nikolić, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 8 Edo Murić, 10 Mike Tobey, 11 Jaka Blažič, 27 Žiga Dimec, 30 Zoran Dragić, 31 Vlatko Čančar, 77 Luka Dončić (Coach: Aleksander Sekulić)

----2023 FIBA World Cup

finished 7th among 32 teams

4 Žiga Samar, 6 Aleksej Nikolić, 7 Klemen Prepelič, 10 Mike Tobey, 11 Jaka Blažič, 15 Gregor Hrovat, 27 Žiga Dimec, 30 Zoran Dragić, 32 Bine Prepelič, 33 Gregor Glas, 55 Jakob Čebašek, 77 Luka Dončić (C) (Coach: Aleksander Sekulić)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leto 1992. https://web.archive.org/web/20210807163706/https://www.kzs.si/article/id/643. dead. 7 August 2021. sl. Basketball Federation of Slovenia. 18 September 2017.
  2. News: EP 2005 – prvenstvo, ko je Sloveniji uspel preboj med najboljše. 21 August 2013. 14 September 2017. sl. RTV Slovenija. Tilen. Jamnik. Ljubljana.
  3. Web site: Slovenci na račun Italijanov do končnega 7. mesta . . 9 September 2023 . sl . 9 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Leto 1993. https://web.archive.org/web/20210807163709/https://www.kzs.si/article/id/653. dead. 7 August 2021. sl. Basketball Federation of Slovenia. 14 September 2017.
  5. Web site: 1993 European Championship for Men. FIBA. 14 September 2017.
  6. Web site: 2009 EuroBasket. FIBA. 14 September 2017.
  7. News: Konec je, Slovenija zapušča EuroBasket. 12 September 2015. 14 September 2017. sl. Siol. Jaka. Lopatič.
  8. Web site: Slovenia – FIBA EuroBasket 2017. 18 September 2017. FIBA.
  9. News: Dragić: Slovenija, domov prihajamo kot evropski prvaki. 18 September 2017. 18 September 2017. sl. RTV Slovenija. Istanbul. Tilen. Jamnik.
  10. Web site: Doncic, Slovenia continue roll through Olympic qualifying . USA TODAY . 10 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809183235/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/01/doncic-slovenia-continue-roll-through-olympic-qualifying/117342940/ . 9 August 2021 . 2 July 2021 . live.
  11. Web site: Doncic, Slovenia continue roll through Olympic qualifying. FIBA. 1 July 2021. 10 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Luka Doncic's triple-double sends Slovenia to first ever Olympic appearance. The Athletic. 10 August 2021. 5 July 2021.
  13. Web site: 26 July 2021. Tóquio2020. Espanha e Eslovénia vencem no basquetebol com Doncic em destaque. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 10 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Watch: Luka Doncic Score 48 Points in Olympic Debut. 26 July 2021. NBC. 10 August 2021.
  15. Web site: Slovenia too much for Japan, wins 116–81 to move to 2–0. Reynolds, Tim. 29 July 2021. Associated Press. 10 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Los taronja Tobey y Prepelic empujan a España contra EE UU. Villena. live. Juan Carlos. es. Las Provincias. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801232031/https://www.lasprovincias.es/deportes/valencia-bc/taronja-tobey-prepelic-20210801135126-nt.html. 1 August 2021. 1 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Player of the Day – Slovenia's Mike Tobey. FIBA. 10 August 2021. 1 August 2021.
  18. Web site: La Slovénie, victorieuse de l'Espagne, reste invaincue aux JO de Tokyo. L'Équipe. live. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210802103625/https://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/Actualites/La-slovenie-victorieuse-de-l-espagne-reste-invaincue-aux-jo-de-tokyo/1275124. 2 August 2021. fr. 1 August 2021.
  19. Web site: Doncic, Slovenia edge Spain 95–87 to sweep basketball group. Mahoney. live. 1 August 2021. Brian. Associated Press. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210808224336/https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-spain-slovenia-spain-olympic-team-f1d1076d62e86449f8c46bb03e4b7ce3. 8 August 2021.
  20. Web site: Could rising NBA star Luka Doncic's 'magic' lead Slovenia to basketball gold in Tokyo?. Trouillard. 5 August 2021. Stéphanie. France 24. 10 August 2021.
  21. Web site: Nicolas Batum's block saves win, sends France to gold medal game. live. Kles. 5 August 2021. Dayton. National Basketball Association. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805155940if_/https://www.nba.com/news/france-slovenia-tokyo-olympics-semifinal. 5 August 2021.
  22. Web site: Patty Mills leads Aussies past Slovenia for nation's first men's basketball medal. 7 August 2021. Quigley. Ryan. NBC. 10 August 2021.
  23. Web site: To. G. . Dončić v idealni peterki olimpijskega turnirja . . 10 August 2021 . sl . 8 August 2021.
  24. Web site: Statistika. Basketball Federation of Slovenia. 14 August 2023. sl.
  25. Web site: Seznam reprezentantov. sl. Basketball Federation of Slovenia. 30 June 2024.