BELGRADE (Serbia) - His dream night and an excellent debut for the senior national team may have been blemished by an ankle injury, but the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers will be one Serbia's Alen Smailagic will always remember. 

And if his first game is anything to go by, the 21-year-old big man, who returned to Europe this season after a spell in the NBA, seems destined for more international action in the years to come as an important part of Serbia's long-term plans.

Having scored 15 points on solid 6-of-9 shooting clip in 25 minutes of action in a nail-biting thriller against Latvia, Smailagic spoke with FIBA.basketball about his debut and the joy of playing for the Serbian national team.

 "I am thrilled. Fantastic evening, a fantastic experience. We beat a great opponent in a strange game that was very efficient and uncertain until the last second, and I think that is good for us, for our progress," Smailagic said the evening after the game, after the impressions subsided a bit and settled down.

"I thank coach Pesic for the trust he showed in me and the invitation, and also for the minutes he gave me to spend in the game. I thank the fans for their support, too. I will remember this game for the rest of my life."

"I WILL REMEMBER THIS GAME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."- Alen Smailagic

However, not everything went perfectly for a talented big guy, as his stellar showing in front of the Belgrade crowd was cut short after stepping on an opposing player's foot. He didn't travel to Belgium for the second game of the Qualifiers window, with further medical checks in order.

"It's a pity. I could have done without it," Smailagic says. "I am sorry that I will not be able to help the team in Mons. But it is what it is. I will be in Belgrade and cheer for my teammates with all my heart."

The last couple of months have been significant in Alen Smailagic's career - also outside of the national team environment. 

After three years in the NBA and G League, where he was part of the Golden State Warriors organization and shared the floor with the likes of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, he decided to return to his homeland, striking a deal with Partizan Belgrade, coached by the legendary Zeljko Obradovic.

Solid performances at the start of the season at club level had Smailagic's name flashing on the radar of another Serbian great, Svetislav Pesic, who returned to the national team's bench after almost two decades.

"Yes, when it is said and summed up, it seems incredible what happened to me recently," says Smailagic with a smile. "The decision to return to Europe and my country was difficult, but still the best for me. I didn't play much in the US, but I learned a lot and progressed by working and watching Steph Curry and the others. And then, I got the opportunity to work with Zeljko, who helped me improve. And then came the call of Kari Pesic, which made me even happier, because he is an incredible expert, very experienced, and I want to "steal" some tricks from him. A long story short - I'm living my basketball fairytale right now."

Part of that fairy tale is being in the gym, in the hotel, and traveling with the best players that Serbia can count on at the moment, and that is a unique experience.

"Milos Teodosic is our leader. We all listen to him both on and off the floor. Some other older players, like Marko Jagodic-Kuridza, helped us in the sense that helped us adapt. There are many young guns there; we all know each other, some from clubs, some from youth selections, and terrific chemistry. Of course, coach Pesic also contributed to that; he tried to talk to us a lot at the meetings to hear our thoughts. Everything is set up well, and it works great, and my impressions are much better than I expected," Smailagic said.

He points out that he can hardly wait for the next time with the national team and the upcoming Qualifiers windows next year, which will be crucial in laying a foundation for Serbia to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

"It is a special feeling to wear the national team jersey. That coat of arms on your chest makes you move forward, do even more, defend your country and play for your people. There is no better feeling than that, and I will always try to be there when I get the call to take part in the action," Smailagic concluded.

FIBA