OAKLAND (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - A month has passed since Nemanja Nedovic wore the Serbia shirt at the EuroBasket.

The 21st of September was a day that he and everyone else in the national team set-up looks back on with a sense of satisfaction.

After crashing to heavy defeats to Spain in the EuroBasket Quarter-Finals and then hosts Slovenia in a Classification Round game, the Serbians salvaged their tournament with a 76-64 triumph over Italy.

Having finished first in Group B - the 'group of death' - ahead of Lithuania, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD), Serbia beat the Italians in the battle or seventh place to reach the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Nedovic says the EuroBasket was an extremely tough competition.

"It was for sure," he said to FIBA.com, "but we can't not be satisfied.

"We qualified for the World Cup next year.

"We'll not have to play the qualifications for the European Championship (EuroBasket 2015 in Ukraine).

"It was important that we played well against Italy after two tough losses to Spain and Slovenia. We showed our energy."

Serbia hit the ground running in the do-or-die game against the Italians.

"Our rhythm was there from the first minutes and I think we deserved it," Nedovic said.

"Had we started against Spain and Slovenia the way we did against Italy, it would have been a different story.

"But it is what it is. We finished with six wins and five losses. We're going to play at the World Cup and we're satisfied."

Nedovic, a 1.92m guard, averaged 8.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists at the EuroBasket.

He had ups and downs.

The sight of Nedovic heading to the bench to receive stern lectures from veteran boss Dusan Ivkovic wasn't uncommon.

"It looks intense," Nedovic said, "but he just wanted the best for us.

"He's a great teacher, a great coach and that last win was for him.

"He was always supportive."

Ivkovic, who announced shortly after the EuroBasket that he would not continue as coach at the World Cup, had to do a lot of teaching in Slovenia.

Serbia had the youngest squad at the EuroBasket.

They went up against quality opponents and had to cope with a relentless schedule.

The Serbians played 11 games in 18 days, including the three against Spain, Slovenia and Italy on the last four days of the competition.

Players had to be mentally strong.

Nedovic says he grew in confidence.

"Yes, for sure," he said.

"It was a big experience, competition for me and the other guys.

"I hope the team will stay together for more years and I think the results will be better."

Nedovic is now in the United States launching his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson played him more than 25 minutes in Friday's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers in China and Nedovic made three of his five shots but had just one assist and three turnovers.

Shortly after Nedovic joined the Warriors, Jackson said: "He's a very good athlete with deceptive speed.

"We're not asking him to come in and be lights out from day one.

"We're a very good basketball team, and we're going to be very patient with him."

Nedovic has a very clear idea about the position he will play.

"Point guard," he said.

"I've played my whole career at the point guard spot.

"I like to have the ball in my hands.

"My last season in Belgrade (2011-12), I played some two-guard. I didn't play (it) too much, didn't play it that good."

"Last season in Lithuania (with Lietuvos Rytas), I played only point guard and I think that's my position."

The expectation is that Nedovic won't play much this season for Golden State.

He is likely to have a lot of games with the Warriors' NBDL team, Santa Cruz.

The pre-season is very important for Nedovic.

"I just want to learn from the guys," he said.

"I couldn't ask for better teachers, from Steph (Curry), Toney (Douglas), everybody on the team. This is my first year, here. I'm just going to be patient."

FIBA