New-look Slovenia make long-term plans

LJUBLJANA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - The new year has ushered in several important changes at Slovenia and more might be around the corner, but the aim of 'Junaki' in the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers emains unchanged, legend Matjaz Smodis has emphasised.

"The goal is very clear, we want to qualify to the EuroBasket," claimed Smodis, who is the new sport director for Slovenian men's national teams, in no uncertain terms in the wake of Friday's FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers Draw.

"The group is not easy but probably whichever group we were drawn in would not be easy.

"Now it's up to us to put together the best possible team and prepare for the challenges that are coming."

Slovenia were drawn in Group E, together with Ukraine, Bulgaria and Kosovo but Smodis, who has only recently assumed his new role, needs to tackle challenges of a different nature before the 'Junaki' take to the court for their opening game against Kosovo on 31st August.

"There is a lot of new people between the federation and the coaching staff so there are a lot of new ideas that we will need to put together," Smodis said.

"It will take some time to get to know each other but this process will probably generate further stimulation."

Igor Kokoskov, who took over from Jure Zdovc as Slovenia's head coach last week, is among the new arrivals.

"The initial idea was to keep the same system and the same coach for the next two years but Jure Zdovc got this great job at AEK Athens and he had to look into other areas of his career," Smodis explained.

"I think it's very big advantage for us that the new coach worked for many years with our big star, Goran Dragic, and they have a good relationship.

"That was part of the reason why we went after Kokoskov and we were very happy when the [KZS] president told us that the coach was interested.

"He is obviously a coach who has been around for a long time, has done a great job with the national team of Georgia so let's say that the stage is set for success."

The elder of the Dragic brothers worked with coach Kokoskov at his previous team, Phoenix Suns, but this of course does not mean his participation in the EuroBasket Qualifiers is certain.

"As a former player, I understand that he [Dragic] has to concentrate on his team at this stage of the season, especially in the NBA where there is much travel involved and he has a young family," Smodis said.

"So I don't want to bother him too much with details about the national team which are not urgent right now.

"We will probably talk during the NBA All-Star break, also the coach will be coming to Slovenia so we'll start working on details."

While Smodis stresses it is still too early to talk about next summer's roster, he interestingly hints at Goran Dragic's team-mate at Miami Heat, Beno Udrih, also having a possible place on it.

Udrih, who recently joined Dragic on the Heat following a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, has not suited up for Slovenia since the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

He was poised to make a return to the national team for EuroBasket 2013 on home soil which mobilised the entire country, but pulled out of the preliminary squad in mid-July.

"From the current roster we have Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih playing in the NBA," Smodis said pointedly.

"Then we have Zoran Dragic (at Khimki), Alen Omic, (Gran Canaria) Jure Balazic (Royal Hali Gaziantep), Jaka Blazic (Laboral Kutxa) and Klemen Prepelic (EWE Oldenburg) while Edo Muric plays in Serbia (Partizan Belgrade) but it's still kind of a domestic league (ABA Adriatic League).

If Smodis has his way, this experienced core could be flanked by a young crop of talented players.

"I think we should have more young guys playing abroad because, although the Slovenian league is good, it's not ideal for these guys to explode," Smodis said.

"The sooner they go abroad, the better it is for us.

"We have a great example in Luka Doncic, who left 4-5 years ago and now he is basically a key piece at Real Madrid.

"That's kind of the idea we have now at the federation, with the new staff we have and Raso [Nesterovic], the Secretary General.

"We think it would be ideal if we could contribute so that the best prospects get a gig at big clubs that have a good system and a proven track record in developing talent.

"Even if they do succeed there and come back to Slovenia after 4-5 years, they will have made better progress, this is the reality."

FIBA