Bjelica stresses importance of a 'united' Serbia

MINNESOTA (2016 Rio Olympics/FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Nemanja Bjelica couldn't celebrate Serbia's silver-medal achievement in person at the Rio de Janeiro Games because he was out of action with a right-foot injury.

But the 28-year-old was with the team in spirit.

The players missed their teammate, something they made clear by writing his name and number 8 on t-shirts they wore during the medal ceremony.

The gesture reinforced how important the veteran forward is to the cause, that he has been a key man in the team since Serbia's run to the EuroBasket 2009 title game and remains a crucial figure moving forward.

Yet it did not soften the blow for Bjelica of missing out on something that he had worked so hard for.

"I felt really bad because I wanted to be part of the team, as the national team means family to me," he said to FIBA.com. "But sometimes in life, you can't choose and you have to make sure that you stay healthy. That was very frustrating, but I had to get back from recovery first."

Bjelica has recovered and is now playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He hasn't given up hope of experiencing an Olympics in four years. To have that opportunity, one thing must take precedence over everything else.

"We've got to stay united," Bjelica said. "The staff and the coach have to keep doing the same great job they have been doing so far and we will have great things happening."

While most of his time has been marked by success with Serbia, Bjelica was with the team when it dipped, if only slightly. At EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania, Serbia finished eighth and missed out on the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, while two years later they came in seventh at the EuroBasket in Slovenia.

The good times returned when Sasha Djordjevic took the helm in 2014. He steered the team to a runners-up finish at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain that year.

They finished fourth at EuroBasket 2015 in France and after clinching a spot in Rio by hosting and winning the OQT in Belgrade, Serbia were second at the Olympics.

"We are bringing Serbia back to a great level," Bjelica said. "We are showing the world how good our country can be in international competitions. Everybody respects us now and we have so many talented players all over the European continent and in the NBA. I think we have a bright future."

"The guys did an amazing job (in Rio) and it is the result of the great things we have been building in the last couple of years." - Bjelica

Bjelica couldn't play but was able to take satisfaction from the team's performance in Rio, one that saw it give the United States a fright in the Group Phase and also beat Croatia in the Quarter-Finals and Australia in the Semi-Finals.

Serbia celebrated a huge win over Australia in the Rio Semi-Finals

The USA throttled Serbia in the Final, 96-66, yet being second best after the Americans was no disgrace. Getting a silver medal was vital to keep the momentum going with the national team.

"It was very important for our confidence," Bjelica said. "The guys did an amazing job and it is the result of the great things we have been building in the last couple of years. I was very happy for them and I hope I will play in the Olympic Games one day. Maybe in four years, that would be great."

FIBA