Koà ¡arkaà ¡ki klub Partizan (), commonly known as Partizan Belgrade, or as Partizan Mozzart Bet for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club is a founding member and shareholder of the Adriatic Basketball Association, and competes in the Serbian League (KLS), the ABA League, and the continental top-tier EuroLeague.
Since 1945, Partizan has won 51 trophies and is the holder of the 22 national champion titles. They have also won 16 national basketball cups, 8 ABA League championships and 1 ABA League Supercup, and most notably the European Champion trophy at the Final Four of the EuroLeague in Istanbul in 1992. The final game was notable for the buzzer-beater by Aleksandar ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ which ranks among the most famous shots in basketball history. They also won 3 KoraÃÂ Cups in 1978, 1979 and 1989 and participated in four Euroleague Final Fours. In September 2009, Partizan became the first and to this day the only Serbian team to play an official game against an NBA team.
The club was established on 4 October 1945, as a basketball section of the Sports Association of the Central House of the Yugoslav Army. The first club championship of Yugoslavia was held in 1946, and Partizan participated with a team consisting mostly of players from Yugoslav Army basketball team, which in 1945 won the unofficial state championship against the teams of Yugoslav republics. KK Partizan officially split from the Army in 1953, since the entire sports society became independent and was renamed as Partizan Yugoslav Sports Association (JSD Partizan).
Although with a strong roster, including many players who played for the national team of Yugoslavia, Partizan waited for the first title of Yugoslav champion until 1976. In the first 30 years of its history, most well-known Partizan players have included Mirko MarjanoviÃÂ, Boà ¾idar MunÃÂan, Radomir à  aper, Vilmoà ¡ Loci, Lajoà ¡ Engler, ÃÂedomir StojiÃÂeviÃÂ, Borislav StankoviÃÂ, Borislav ÃÂurÃÂiÃÂ, Branko RadoviÃÂ, Radovan RadoviÃÂ, Miloà ¡ BojoviÃÂ, Dragutin ÃÂermak, Slobodan Jeliàand others. During this period Partizan finished second-placed in the championship of Yugoslavia on five occasions. On two occasions (in 1950 and 1951) it even had the same number of points as the winner, but barely missed the title of national champion.
The rise of Partizan into a major basketball club that will eventually become one of the most successful in Europe, started in the early 70's, when former players took over the management and the coaching job was taken by national team coach Ranko à ½eravica. He selected a group of young players led by exceptionally talented Draà ¾en Dalipagiàand Dragan KiÃÂanoviÃÂ. Since à ½eravica, as the national team coach (until 1965 as an assistant to Aleksandar Nikoliàand then as head coach), closely followed the trends of international basketball for more than ten years, including the NBA, he aimed to combine the best features of American and Soviet concepts of the game, and adapt them to the specifics and the mentality of the players from Belgrade, Serbia and the rest of Yugoslavia. He gathered around him other young coaches, and in the late 1970s, when à ½eravica went coaching abroad, his former associates Borislav ÃÂorkoviàand Duà ¡an Ivkoviàsuccessfully took over the team.
This important period in the club's history was crowned with several trophies. The first of these was the title of Yugoslav champion in 1975âÂÂ76 season. Partizan also started to make noise in the European competitions with two back-to-back titles in the European KoraàCup (1978 in Banja Luka, KK Bosna was defeated with 117âÂÂ110, while in 1979 Partizan defeated Italian Arrigoni 108âÂÂ98). The first double was won in 1978âÂÂ79 and another national championship title came in 1980âÂÂ81.
In addition to coaches à ½eravica, ÃÂorkoviàand IvkoviÃÂ, notable players included, above all Draà ¾en Dalipagiàand Dragan KiÃÂanoviÃÂ, but also Dragutin ÃÂermak, Goran Latifià(captain of the first championship team in 1976), Josip FarÃÂiÃÂ, Dragan TodoriÃÂ, Duà ¡an Kerkez, Miodrag MariÃÂ, Boban PetroviÃÂ, Arsenije Peà ¡iÃÂ, Boris Beravs, Milenko SavoviÃÂ, Jadran VujaÃÂiÃÂ, Nebojà ¡a ZorkiÃÂ, à ½arko ZeÃÂeviàand others.
After a couple of quiet years and a generational shift, a new generation of top players developed towards the end of the 1980s, under the leadership of the new club director, Dragan KiÃÂanoviÃÂ.
The generation of à ½eljko ObradoviÃÂ, Milenko Savoviàand Goran GrboviÃÂ, followed by younger Aleksandar ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ, Vlade Divac, à ½arko Paspalj, Ivo NakiÃÂ, Miroslav Pecarski and Oliver Popoviàand led by young coach Duà ¡ko Vujoà ¡eviÃÂ, brought Partizan back to the top of Yugoslav and European basketball.
That generation won the title of national champion in 1986âÂÂ87, and in 1988, following a dominant performance in the quarterfinal round of the Champions Cup and victories over major European clubs including FC Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Aris and Tracer Milano, qualified for the Final Four in the Belgian city of Ghent. After an unexpected loss in the semifinals to Maccabi Tel Aviv (82âÂÂ87), Partizan defeated Aris (105âÂÂ93) and finished in the third place in Europe. In 1989, enforced by young Predrag DaniloviÃÂ, Partizan won the FIBA KoraàCup for the third time, triumphing over Wiwa Vismara Cantù. After losing the first game in Italy (76âÂÂ89), Partizan won the return leg in Belgrade with 101âÂÂ82. That same season, Partizan won the Yugoslav Cup by defeating the crowned European champions Jugoplastika (87âÂÂ74).
Continental recognition of this second great generation of players attracted more talented basketball players to the club, but at the same time, interest from financially more powerful clubs in Europe and the United States for the best Yugoslav players significantly reduced their time spent in the home country. Partizan's Vlade Divac and à ½arko Paspalj in late 1989, along with Draà ¾en Petroviàfrom Cibona became the first players from Yugoslavia who pursued their careers in the NBA league.
First team coaches in the mid-1980s also included Borislav Dà ¾akoviÃÂ, Vladislav LuÃÂiàand Zoran SlavniÃÂ.
After the departure of Divac, Paspalj, GrboviÃÂ, Savoviàand other main players from the 80's, Partizan started the 1991âÂÂ92 season with a rejuvenated squad, led by an exceptionally talented backcourt pair of Aleksandar ÃÂorÃÂeviàand Predrag DaniloviÃÂ. A previous team captain and former national team player with no coaching experience, à ½elimir ObradoviÃÂ, was chosen as a first team coach. Another former Partizan coach and player, an established European basketball expert, professor Aleksandar Nikoliàbecame his counselor.
The season didn't start well at all - ethnic conflicts in the region had escalated towards the autumn of 1991 and FIBA decided not to allow teams from the former Yugoslavia to play their home games at their home venues. Belgrade's "Black and Whites" have opted to be "hosts" in the Madrid suburb of Fuenlabrada, in the Polideportivo Fernando MartÃÂn arena. This proved to be a right move as the Spanish crowd was very supportive of their adopted team.
ObradoviÃÂ's team began a long season of European and domestic matches, often traveling thousands of kilometers in just a few days, with performance gradually improving. Partizan finished the competition in the group stage in the Euroleague in fourth place with nine wins and five defeats. That meant that Partizan had to play crucial matches to qualify for the Final Four with Knorr Bologna. Bolognese had a strong team led by former Yugoslav national team player Jurij Zdovc. However, ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ, DaniloviÃÂ, Ivo NakiÃÂ, Zoran StevanoviÃÂ, Vladimir DragutinoviÃÂ, à ½eljko RebraÃÂa, MlaÃÂan à  ilobad, Slavià ¡a Koprivica, Nikola LonÃÂar and Dragià ¡a à  ariàcame on top in three games and for the second time qualified for the Final Four.
At the Final Four held in Abdi ðpekçi Arena in Istanbul in April 1992, Partizan won the title of European champion. In the Final Four, Partizan won both games â in the semifinals they defeated Italian Philips Milano and in the finals Spanish MontigalàJoventut (71âÂÂ70), with an iconic three-pointer in the last second by Aleksandar ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ. The average age of the team was only 21.7 years, and out of 17 games all but one (the quarter-final game against Knorr Bologna) were played on foreign grounds.
The season finished triumphantly with victories in the national championship and the Cup.
After the Istanbul triumph, ÃÂorÃÂeviàand Daniloviàmoved to Italy. They ended in two clubs that Partizan defeated a few months earlier, during its "conquest of Europe" â Daniloviàin Knorr and ÃÂorÃÂeviàin Phillips. The departure of the back-court pair proved to be an irreparable loss. Because of the UN sanctions against FR Yugoslavia, Partizan was not allowed to defend the European title in 1992âÂÂ93 season. In 1993âÂÂ94 season, led by coach à ½eljko LukajiàPartizan won the national cup, and the next season was again successful. The team coached by Borislav Dà ¾akoviàwon both domestic league and cup. The new generation of players included Nikola LonÃÂar, Miroslav BeriÃÂ, Haris BrkiÃÂ, à ½eljko RebraÃÂa, Predrag Drobnjak, Aleksandar ÃÂubrilo. In 1995 the UN sanctions were lifted and Serbian and Montenegrin clubs were again able to compete in European competitions. Inexperienced squad didn't achieve any significant results in their returning season in Europe, but, under the guidance of Ranko à ½eravica they still defended the national title in 1995âÂÂ96 and secured another season in Europe's top competition.
In 1996âÂÂ97 season Partizan, led by new coach Miroslav NikoliÃÂ, qualified for the Top 16 of Euroleague where it was eliminated by later European champion Olympiacos. Partizan defended the title in the domestic league led by players such as Dejan Tomaà ¡eviÃÂ, Dejan KoturoviÃÂ, and Dragan Lukovski. Next season, 1997âÂÂ98, was a success in Euroleague. Two years after the 3-season long UN sanctions ended, Partizan qualified for the Final Four for the third time. After a series of defeats in the group stage, Miroslav Nikoliàresigned and was replaced by Milovan Bogojeviàand the results improved. Partizan first eliminated the reigning champion Olympiacos, and then, in the quarterfinals, the Russian champions CSKA. After the departure of Beriàand KoturoviÃÂ, enforced with new backcourt pair Miroslav Radoà ¡eviàand Vladimir ÃÂokiÃÂ, Partizan went on to the Final Four in Barcelona where it took the fourth place, after playing eventual champions Kinder Bologna and Benetton Treviso. However, the season in domestic competition was unsuccessful, and some leading players like Predrag Drobnjak departed the club.
After a disappointing domestic league ending, Vladislav LuÃÂiàwas appointed as a new head coach of the club. The domestic 1998âÂÂ99 season was not completed due to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, but Partizan still won the Yugoslav Cup, defeating FMP in the finals, in a game that was played to the sound civil defense sirens. Despite the ongoing air strikes, the game was completed. Partizan reached the quarterfinals of the 1999 Saporta Cup. At the end of the season, most of the players left the club, and another young squad was formed. Led by coach Nenad Trajkoviàand players RadÃ¾à ¡eviÃÂ, ÃÂokiÃÂ, ÃÂubrilo, Nenad ÃÂanak, Ratko Varda, Veselin PetroviÃÂ, Dragan MarkoviàPartizan defended the Yugoslav Cup trophy. 2000âÂÂ01 season was marked by the comeback of experienced players BeriÃÂ, Nikola BulatoviÃÂ, Aleksandar GlintiÃÂ, Branko Milisavljeviàwhile club legends Vlade Divac, Predrag Daniloviàand à ½arko Paspalj returned as part of the club management. Darko Ruso was appointed as a coach, and Partizan reached the Top 16 of Euroleague. In December 2000 a fan-favorite Haris BrkiÃÂ, who returned to club just weeks earlier, was shot and killed outside of Pionir Hall.
Duà ¡ko Vujoà ¡eviÃÂ's return to the position of a head coach in 2001 and Predrag DaniloviÃÂ's presidency marked the beginning of a rise in the fortunes of the club. Between 2001 and 2014, Partizan has been by far the most successful club in Serbia and the ex-Yugoslav region, winning thirteen consecutive national titles, six national cups (five consecutive from 2008 to 2012), and six ABA League titles (five consecutive from 2007 to 2011). From the turn of the century, Partizan also managed to remain fully competitive in the Euroleague, while still developing players, including some of the best big men in European basketball, such as Nikola PekoviÃÂ, Aleks MariÃÂ, Kosta PeroviÃÂ, Jan Veselý, Novica VeliÃÂkoviÃÂ, Milan MaÃÂvan and, before them, Nenad KrstiÃÂ. The highlight of the era were the three consecutive Euroleague playoff appearances from 2008 to 2010, with the latter being the year in which the club once again reached the EuroLeague Final Four.
In the period between 2001 and 2006 Partizan struggled with its results in Euroleague. However, on the domestic front, Partizan was highly successful and built up for European success in the following years. During these years, notable players from Partizan champion squads included Miloà ¡ VujaniÃÂ, Nenad KrstiÃÂ, Vule AvdaloviÃÂ, young national team players Uroà ¡ TripkoviÃÂ, Luka BogdanoviÃÂ, Kosta PeroviÃÂ, Boris BakiÃÂ, Dejan Borovnjak, Novica VeliÃÂkoviÃÂ. They were supported by more experienced players such as Vlado à  ÃÂepanoviÃÂ, ÃÂuro OstojiÃÂ, Dejan MilojeviÃÂ, Predrag à  uput, Petar Boà ¾iÃÂ, Fred House and Vonteego Cummings.
In the 2006âÂÂ07 season, In addition to the sixth consecutive title in Serbia, Partizan won its first Adriatic league trophy, defeating another Serbian club FMP, in the finals. Duà ¡an Kecman, Milenko TepiÃÂ, Nikola PekoviÃÂ, with VeliÃÂkoviÃÂ, Cummings, PeroviÃÂ, BakiÃÂ, Bogdanoviàalso reached the TOP 16 of Euroleague. On 17 August 2007, Partizan signed an agreement with Bosnian club KK Igokea on technical cooperation, known as "Partizan Igokea". The season 2007âÂÂ08 was a big come back to the top of European basketball. Partizan Igokea was successful in Euroleague, and strengthened with Milt Palacio, Slavko Vraneà ¡, ÃÂedomir Vitkovac Partizan Igokea knocked out of the competition European champions Panathinaikos, but was stopped in the quarterfinals by TAU Cerámica in a close fought encounter.
In the national league, Partizan Igokea won the first of four consecutive triple crowns, uniting the titles in national league, national cup and regional league.
In the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Partizan defended all three trophies. New players Aleksandar Raà ¡iÃÂ, Stéphane Lasme, Jan Veselý played well alongside established stars VeliÃÂkoviÃÂ, TepiÃÂ, TripkoviÃÂ, Vraneà ¡, Boà ¾iàand reached the quarterfinals of Euroleague again, where they were eliminated by CSKA. On 5 March 2009, Partizan and its fans became record holders, setting a record crowd of 22,567 in a game against Panathinaikos, the highest ever attendance for any basketball game held indoors in Europe. Coach Vujoà ¡eviàwas given the highest coaching award in Europe, the Euroleague Coach of the Year Award, and Partizan was chosen by Euroleague to go on tour against NBA teams, becoming one of the selected few clubs to represent European basketball in the United States.
The 2009âÂÂ10 season was one of the most successful seasons in the history of KK Partizan. Main players from the previous seasons Uroà ¡ TripkoviÃÂ, Novica VeliÃÂkoviÃÂ, Milenko TepiÃÂ, Stéphane Lasme left the club. Experienced Duà ¡an Kecman returned and Aleks MariÃÂ, Bo McCalebb, Lawrence Roberts were brought in. Partizan played better from one game to another, and Pionir Hall remained impregnable fortress for many European greats like Efes Pilsen or FC Barcelona. Partizan again went to quarterfinals and this time faced Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. Partizan went past their opponent in big style and secured the fourth Final Four of Euroleague. In the final tournament of Euroleague held in Paris, Partizan played even with their rivals but was lost in the final seconds of the semi-final to Olympiacos 80âÂÂ83 and in the 3rd place game to CSKA Moscow 88âÂÂ90. Both games were decided in overtime. Partizan again defended national league and cup titles.
The final game of the 2010 Adriatic league remains as one of the most memorable in the history. Played in front of the sold-out Arena Zagreb against longtime rivals from Croatia Cibona. Cibona trailed 68âÂÂ72 with a few seconds left, but back-to-back triples by Marko Tomas and Bojan Bogdanoviàgave their team a 74âÂÂ72 lead with just 0.6 seconds left. Cibona players and the crowd already began to celebrate the title, but Partizan had the game's final possession and Duà ¡an Kecman banked in a game-winning triple from midcourt at the buzzer, to make Partizan win another Adriatic League title in front of the shocked crowd and opposition players.
Before the 2010âÂÂ11 season, Duà ¡ko Vujoà ¡eviÃÂ, the most successful Partizan coach in history left the club after nine seasons to sign with CSKA Moscow. Vlada JovanoviÃÂ, previously his assistant, became the new head coach. The change in coaching position was followed by changes in playing squad as MariÃÂ, McCalebb, Roberts, Vraneà ¡, Raà ¡iàleft the club. New players were brought in: Nathan Jawai, James Gist, Curtis Jerrells, Raà ¡ko KatiÃÂ. Along with crowd favorite Jan Veselý these players made the first five, the first time that Partizan relied mainly on foreign players. The departure of Vujoà ¡eviàinitially affected the results, but as the season went on Partizan's play improved and the team again won three trophies â national double and the regional league. In Euroleague, Partizan achieved its primary goal and qualified for the Top 16 phase.
Again, most of the starters left the team before the 2011âÂÂ12 season began. Serbian national team players Milan MaÃÂvan and Miroslav Raduljica were loaned in, and young players Vladimir LuÃÂiàand Dragan Milosavljeviàgot more playing time. Partizan took advantage of the NBA lockout to bring in its former player, center Nikola PekoviÃÂ. With most of the play revolving around him, Partizan got close to securing another Euroleague Top 16 spot, but due to an end of the lockout Pekoviàreturned to the NBA in early December. Without him, Partizan lost all three remaining fixtures and after five consecutive years, failed to qualify further. In the regional Adriatic League, Partizan was stopped in the semifinals, ending its five-year reign in the competition. On the domestic front, however, Partizan extended its success, winning another double.
The beginning of the 2012âÂÂ13 season saw the return of Duà ¡ko Vujoà ¡eviàto the club. Petar Boà ¾iÃÂ, long-term captain, retired. Vladimir LuÃÂiàwas appointed as captain, and Dragan Milosavljeviàbecame vice-captain. Duà ¡an Kecman and Milan MaÃÂvan were also among the players who left. The squad was rejuvenated, with the oldest player Marko ÃÂakareviàbeing just 24 years old. Initially, the results in Euroleague suffered, with Partizan's supertalented but inexperienced squad being knocked-out of the group stage. After mixed performances in the ABA League regular season, Partizan performed well in the final four, winning its sixth regional title, and securing another season in Euroleague. In the Serbian championship, Partizan successfully defended the trophy and brought its record to twenty national titles, the last twelve being consecutive. The season was marked by the rise of young players such as DÃÂvis BertÃÂns, Bogdan BogdanoviÃÂ, Léo Westermann and Nikola Milutinov.
The 2013âÂÂ14 season started with a success in Euroleage, where Partizan returned to the Top16 group, with youngsters such as Joffrey Lauvergne, BogdanoviÃÂ, BertÃÂns, Westermann, Milutinov leading the team and enforced by a former NBA player Aleksandar PavloviÃÂ. However, Partizan suffered at the Final Four of the Adriatic League with a defeat at a buzzer by Cedevita in the semifinals. Despite the shocking loss, the team bounced and finished the season by winning its thirteenth consecutive national title, again defeating their archrivals Crvena zvezda by 3âÂÂ1 in the final series.
Having lost an ABA league title and therefore a place in Euroleague after almost a decade and a half, a talented generation from the previous two season's disbanded and Partizan entered the 2014âÂÂ15 season with an almost brand new squad. Despite the efforts of experienced PavloviÃÂ, MaÃÂvan, Tepiàand younger Edo MuriàPartizan struggled to finished fourth in the regular season of the Adriatic League, only to be eliminated in the playoff semifinals. In Eurocup, Partizan was eliminated in the first round. Partizan was also eliminated in the Serbian Cup and failed to defend the Serbian League title, losing to Red Star Belgrade in the final series. Without any silverware won, the season was the worst in fourteen years and marked the beginning of a three year long dry spell.
The summer of 2015 included many organizational and roster changes. The board of directors suggested Nikola PekoviÃÂ, former Partizan player, for the next team president, after the resignation of Predrag DaniloviÃÂ. Soon after that, longtime head coach Vujoà ¡eviàdeparted and Petar Boà ¾iàwas offered a head coach position. Main players also left the club, with young Vanja Marinkoviàbecoming the new team captain.
At the beginning of 2016, Partizan severed the contract with Petar Boà ¾iàafter a worst half-season in recent Partizan history. Aleksandar Dà ¾ikiàwas appointed as a new coach, and managed to finish Adriatic League season on the 5th position, and finish the Serbian League at the second place, losing to Crvena zvezda in the finals.
In 2016âÂÂ17 season Partizan played in Basketball Champions League, having withdrawn from the Eurocup. The team captain was Novica VeliÃÂkoviàwho returned to the club. In the group stage, Partizan finished as 3rd and passed to the play-off where they were eliminated by PAOK. After being eliminated in the Adriatic League in the playoff semifinals and Serbian League also in semifinals Partizan ended up without a single trophy won for a third consecutive year. The poor finish of the season led to the departure of Dà ¾ikiàduring the summer.
In the summer of 2017, club's president Pekoviàstepped down, and Ostoja Mijailoviàreplaced him. Partizan started the 2017âÂÂ18 season with Miroslav Nikoliàas new head coach. However, due to poor results, he was fired in December 2017. During the same month, president Ostoja Mijailoviàstated that Partizan owes around 7.19 million euros and that creditors are considering blocking its bank account. On 14 December 2017, former player Nenad ÃÂanak was named as the head coach of Partizan. There were many roster changes throughout the season. One of the best players Patrick Miller left Partizan and the club signed Kwame Vaughn and Bandja Sy. After a good run in next two months, Partizan again finished on the 5th position in Adriatic League. In February 2018, Partizan won the first trophy after almost four years, Radivoj KoraàCup, defeating their archrivals Crvena zvezda 81âÂÂ75 in final. Partizan played in the Eurocup but finished with a 1âÂÂ9 record and last place in their group. The Superleague campaign also finished unsuccessfully because Partizan lost to Crvena Zvezda in the Playoff semifinals thus failing to win the League title for a fourth consecutive season. Nigel Williams-Goss marked this season as the top player and left for Olympiacos and later NBA.
Partizan acquired Jock Landale, Rade Zagorac, Marcus Paige and several other mostly younger players during summer 2018. After a difficult start to the 2018âÂÂ2019 season, including losing five consecutive games both in the ABA League and the 2018âÂÂ19 EuroCup Basketball season, ÃÂanak resigned and was replaced by Andrea Trinchieri as the new head coach. Under Trinchieri, the performance improved and Partizan finally captured some of their former European success, qualifying for the Top16 in the EuroCup. A home loss to Rytas prevented Partizan from qualifying for the playoffs, finishing with a 2âÂÂ4 record in the Top16. In regional ABA League competition, Partizan finished in fourth place of the regular season and eventually lost the semifinal series to Crvena zvezda with 2âÂÂ1. Partizan defended the trophy in the Radivoj KoraàCup, again by defeating Crvena zvezda 76âÂÂ74 in the final.
For the 2019âÂÂ20 season, MarinkoviÃÂ, Sy and Landale departed and Partizan rebuilt the team with Nemanja GordiÃÂ, Rashawn Thomas, Corey Walden, William Mosley and several others. Partizan started the season strongly, winning the ABA Supercup, the Radivoj KoraàCup, and leading in both the AB League and the EuroCup Top-16 group stage, qualifying for the playoffs, but eventually the season was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Trinchieri left Partizan during the summer.
In 2020âÂÂ21 season, even with solid additions of Codi Miller-McIntyre, and much of the previous season's roster remaining, poor coaching choices (Vlado à  ÃÂepanovià(fired in November), Saà ¡o Filipovski (fired in March) and Aleksandar Matovià(finishing the year)) and a poor financial situation (which lead to a big roster turnaround during the season, with players like Miller-McIntyre leaving the club), resulted in Partizan failing to qualify to the ABA League Playoffs, with a disastrous 7th place finish (worst in club history), lost to Mega in the semifinals of the Serbian League and finished in Top 16 phase of EuroCup - out of playoff contention. This year is largely considered as the worst ever in Partizan history.
In the summer of 2021, à ½eljko Obradoviàbecame the team's new head coach, and Partizan started complete roster rebuild. The roster has been strengthened with players like, Kevin Punter, Mathias Lessort, Zach LeDay, Yam Madar, Alen Smailagiàand Aleksa AvramoviÃÂ. During the 2021âÂÂ22 EuroCup season, where the newly rebuilt Partizan were considered one of the top competition's favorites, Partizan finished second in the group A, but was eliminated in the eightfinal by the 7th seed of group B Frutti Extra Bursaspor 95âÂÂ103 in Belgrade - a huge disappointment for the club. Partizan also made it to the Playoffs Finals series of the 2021âÂÂ22 ABA League, where they lost with 3âÂÂ2 in closely contested series to Crvena zvezda - another big disappointment for the team. KK Partizan refused to play in the Basketball League of Serbia.
In the summer of 2022, Partizan received a wild card from the EuroLeague to compete in the competition for the 2022âÂÂ23 season; it would be return to the competition after eight years. Several new players joined the roster, Dante Exum, Ioannis Papapetrou, James Nunnally and Danilo AnÃÂuà ¡iÃÂ. On 20 October 2022 Partizan won their first game in EuroLeague after 3.121 days by beating Virtus Bologna 90âÂÂ62 in à  tark Arena. At the end of the EuroLeague Regular Season, Partizan finished in sixth place with 20 wins and 14 losses and secured participation in the Playoffs. In the Playoffs, Partizan was defeated by Real Madrid 3âÂÂ2 in the series. The series was marked by a massive brawl between the players that occurred in the second game with 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining when Sergio Llull made Flagrant foul on Punter. The fight resulted in the injury of Dante Exum after a brutal move by Guerschon Yabusele. The Euroleague imposed suspensions for Punter and Mathias Lessort on the Partizan side and Gabriel Deck and Yabusele on the Real side. Partizan ended the 2022âÂÂ23 season by lifting the ABA League championship trophy, after 3âÂÂ2 score against Crvena zvezda in the Finals series; team captain Punter won the ABA League Finals MVP award for his performances.
The 2023âÂÂ24 season was deemed to be unsuccessful for Partizan as they finished the season without lifting any trophy.
The 2024-25 season, with a reconstructed team, Partizan managed to lift the record eighth ABA League championship, and the Serbian League championship after 11 seasons.
Partizan has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship:
Grobari (Serbian Cyrillic: ÃÂÃÂþñðÃÂø, English: The Gravediggers) are supporters of the Belgrade football club Partizan. They generally support all clubs within the Partizan multi-sport club, especially football and basketball club. According to the "Ultras World" organization, which gathers over 400,000 fans on social networks, they are ranked in the TOP 10 supporters in the world. In March 2009, in Kombank Arena in the Euroleague TOP 16 game between Partizan and Panathinaikos, Grobari appointed the league's attendance record â 22,567. Partizan has been the most watched team for many years in a row in Adriatic League. In the 2022âÂÂ23 EuroLeague season, Partizan set a record with the highest total attendance of 340,816 spectators. In the 2023âÂÂ24 EuroLeague season, Partizan's fans registered the largest average home attendance in EuroLeague history, with 19,916 fans attending each match. Last season, Partizan had a huge attendance of 17,938. This year, the average of 19,916 spectators would've been the fourth-largest in the (NBA), with only the Chicago Bulls (20,624), Dallas Mavericks (20,217), and Philadelphia 76ers (20,041) overtaking the Serbian club.
Partizan until recently played most of their home games at Aleksandar NikoliàHall, located in the Belgrade municipality of Palilula. The arena, then named Pionir Hall, was built in 1973 in eleven months, by Energoprojekt. Basketball was popular in Yugoslavia at the time, and although Hall Aleksandar Nikoliàhosted many different sport events (volleyball, handball) it became known as a basketball arena. It has a seating capacity of 8,000. Aleksandar NikoliàHall is also the home of Partizan's main rival Red Star Belgrade. In the first twenty-three years (1945âÂÂ1968), the club played their home games at open basketball courts on Belgrade Fortress before moving to Ranko à ½eravica Hall. For 24 seasons (1968âÂÂ1992), Partizan played their home games at Ranko à ½eravica Hall, located in Belgrade municipality of New Belgrade.
In the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Partizan played their home games of the EuroLeague Top 16 in the Kombank Arena. On 5 March 2009 against Greek team Panathinaikos, a record crowd of 22,567 was set for the EuroLeague. Partizan also holds the record for highest single-game attendance in the ABA League history, with 23,021 fans attending the match against Mega Mis on 22 January 2024. As of 9th February 2020, Partizan has been involved in the top 4 single-game attendances in the history of the regional competition (three of them as a host).
In June 2019, Partizan signed a contract with à  tark Arena to be its main home arena until the end of 2023âÂÂ24 season.
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The following is a list of father-and-son combinations who have played for Partizan.
Numerous Partizan players have won medals competing for their national teams and several have been internationally recognized for their outstanding contribution to the game of basketball:
Partizan has provided a number of NBA players since 1989. In total, thirteen were drafted while at Partizan with five of them selected in the first round of the NBA draft, with the highest pick being the 6th place on the 2011 NBA draft for Jan Veselý. Most notable NBA players who came through the ranks of Partizan include the likes of Hall-of-Famer Vlade Divac and rookie-all stars à ½eljko RebraÃÂa, Nenad Krstiàand Bogdan BogdanoviÃÂ.
There have been thirty-five head coaches for Partizan since the founding of the club in 1945. The first head coach was Boà ¾o Grkiniàwho coached Partizan for two seasons. The first coach to bring Partizan an official trophy was Borislav ÃÂorkoviÃÂ. He won Yugoslav League with Partizan in 1976. Club won the first international trophy in 1978, while being coached by Ranko à ½eravica. à ½eljko Obradoviàlead the club to the most significant trophy, EuroLeague in 1992. Duà ¡ko Vujoà ¡eviàis the most successful coach in the club's history. In his four stints with Partizan he won a total of twenty-three trophies.
Several Partizan coaches have been recognized internationally for their contribution to the game of basketball:
Another former Partizan coach, Borislav StankoviÃÂ, was also enshrined in both the Basketball Hall of Fame and FIBA Hall of Fame, although not as a coach but as a contributor.
Partizan has won thirty-eight domestic trophies, including twenty-two national championships, of which thirteen were won consecutively, and sixteen cups, of which five were won consecutively. They have also won eight ABA Leagues, first five of them consecutive and one ABA League Supercup. In European competitions in the late 1970s, they won two back-to-back FIBA KoraàCups in 1978 and 1979. They also won another KoraàCup in 1989. In 1992, Partizan won the club's first â and to date only â EuroLeague title, downing Joventut Badalona 71âÂÂ70 on a miraculous buzzer-beater by Aleksandar ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ, which ranks among the most amazing shots in European basketball history. Overall, Partizan has won 51 trophies, which makes it the most successful basketball club in Serbia.
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Partizan is the first and so far only club from Serbia that played games against NBA teams. On the 2009 EuroLeague American Tour, Partizan played against Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.