SRB - Radmanovic delivers ultimatum before EuroBasket
BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2007) - A member of Serbia's NBA contingent, Vladimir Radmanovic, is causing a stir in Belgrade after declaring himself "ready” for national team duty but only if his demands on playing time are met. "I'm always ready to play for Serbia,” he said in an interview with the Voice of America, "but, before my final decision, I would like to have a meeting with the head coach of our national team, Dragan Sakota, to see what his expectations are
BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2007) - A member of Serbia's NBA contingent, Vladimir Radmanovic, is causing a stir in Belgrade after declaring himself "ready” for national team duty but only if his demands on playing time are met.
"I'm always ready to play for Serbia,” he said in an interview with the Voice of America, "but, before my final decision, I would like to have a meeting with the head coach of our national team, Dragan Sakota, to see what his expectations are.
"Sincerely, I hope he will remain as our head coach. (But) I want to see if I can accept his thoughts or not.
"I don't want people to misunderstand me at this point, but if I play for Serbia - I want to play, not to be on the bench.
"I have much better ways to spend my summer, to work on my game and to be prepared for next season.
"I'm ready to accept an agreement if they give me important role in the team.
"Otherwise, nothing will happen. I really hope that some compromise can be reached.”
Bizarrely, shortly after making his thoughts known, Radmanovic slipped on some ice while walking in Utah and separated his shoulder.
That injury has knocked him out of action for a couple of months.
Radmanovic played for Yugoslavia, as the country was then known, when they won the FIBA World Championship in 2002 and had been a regular in the squad until last year.
In his interview, Radmanovic was asked about his thoughts on the EuroBasket in Spain.
"I haven’t thought about it, yet,” he said. "It's simply, I haven’t thought about it as no one has called me to discuss that issue.
"I don't know if they’re going to call me, as no from our basketball federation called me for Japan.
"For the list of the called players, I was informed by radio."
Sakota’s young squad that did not include Radmanovic reached the last 16 before falling to eventual gold medalists Spain.
It has been a difficult few months for Serbian national team players.
New Jersey's center Nenad Krstic saw his season come to a premature end when he suffered a serious knee injury while playing for the Nets.
New Orleans Hornets forward Predrag Stojakovic has also had knee surgery, which will sideline him until April.
From Darko Nikolic, Belgrade
FIBA