Serbia competed at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification in the Europe group.
In July 2021, Serbia failed to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
On 15 November 2021, head coach Svetislav Peà ¡iàannounced an initial 24-man roster for the first window games against on 25 November and on 28 November. On 22 November, he announced a 17-man roster, removing from the list seven players due to the EuroLeague schedule conflict; guards Vasilije MiciÃÂ, Ognjen Jaramaz, Vanja MarinkoviÃÂ, Nemanja NedoviÃÂ, Ognjen DobriÃÂ, forward Dejan Davidovac, and center Filip Petruà ¡ev. On 26 November, center Petruà ¡ev was re-added to the roster. Forward Alen Smailagiàmissed the second match due to injury. Guard Jovan Novak, forward Marko JagodiÃÂ-Kuridà ¾a, and center Duà ¡an Ristiàmade their senior debuts with the Serbian national team.
On 15 February 2022, head coach Peà ¡iàannounced an initial 24-man roster for the second window games against on 25 and 28 February. Guards Miloà ¡ Teodosiàand Nikola Rebiàwere the only players unlisted from the 18-man first window roster, while eight new players were called in. Marko JagodiÃÂ-Kuridà ¾a was named as the captain of the Serbia team in absence of Miloà ¡ TeodosiÃÂ. Guard-forwards Nikola ÃÂurià ¡iàand Nikola JoviÃÂ, both at age 18, and center Balà ¡a Koprivica made their senior debuts with the Serbian national team.
On 20 June 2022, head coach Peà ¡iàannounced an initial 20-man roster for the third window games against on 30 June and on 3 July.
On 12 July 2022, head coach Peà ¡iàannounced an initial 22-man roster for the fourth window games against on 25 August and on 28 August, as well as for the upcoming EuroBasket 2022. On 15 August 2022, head coach Peà ¡iÃÂ, following a cut of team captain Teodosiàfrom the roster, announced forwards Nemanja Bjelica and Vladimir LuÃÂiàas co-captains for the second round first window.
<section begin=roster/><section begin="roster" />The following a 16-man roster for the fourth window games at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification:
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The following is the first window depth chart for the matches on 25 to 29 November 2021 against Latvia and Belgium. <section begin=depthchart/><section end=depthchart/> Other 17-man roster members, guards Aleksa UskokoviÃÂ, Nikola RebiÃÂ, Nikola ÃÂurià ¡iÃÂ, forward Dalibor Iliàand center Dragan ApiÃÂ, were out of the final 12-man roster for both games.
The following is the second window depth chart for the matches on 25 to 28 February 2022 against Slovakia. <section begin=depthchart/><section end=depthchart/> Other 24-man roster members, guards Nemanja NedoviÃÂ, Vasilije MiciÃÂ, Ognjen DobriÃÂ, forwards Dejan Davidovac, Nemanja DangubiÃÂ, Rade Zagorac, Alen SmailagiÃÂ, Dejan TodoroviÃÂ, Duà ¡an BeslaÃÂ, Dalibor IliÃÂ, and center Dragan ApiÃÂ, were out of the final 12-man roster for both games.
The following is the third window depth chart for the matches on 30 June to 3 July 2022 against Latvia and Belgium. <section begin=depthchart/><section end=depthchart/> Other 20-man roster members, guards Miloà ¡ Teodosiàand Uroà ¡ TrifunoviÃÂ, forwards Nemanja JoviÃÂ, Danilo AnÃÂuà ¡iÃÂ, Aleksa NovakoviÃÂ, and centers Balà ¡a Koprivica and Marko Pecarski, were out of the final 12-man roster for both games.
The following is the fourth window depth chart for the matches on 25âÂÂ28 August 2022 against and .
Other 16-man roster members, guard Nemanja NedoviÃÂ, and forwards Borià ¡a Simaniàand Nemanja Bjelica were out of the final 12-man roster for both games.
On 12 October 2021, head coach Svetislav Peà ¡iàannounced a 17-man b-team roster for a two day training camp. The roster was composed of players from domestic and ABA League clubs, excluding Crvena zvezda and Partizan. On 18 October, the Basketball Federation of Serbia canceled the b-team training camp due to health issues of head coach Peà ¡iÃÂ. The B-team roster included: Mihailo PetroviÃÂ, Ilija ÃÂokoviÃÂ, Marko Pecarski, Aleksa Radanov, Dalibor IliÃÂ, Stefan ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ, Borià ¡a SimaniÃÂ, Mihailo Muà ¡ikiÃÂ, Nikola JoviÃÂ, Nikola ÃÂurià ¡iÃÂ, Matija BeliÃÂ, Vojin MedareviÃÂ, Duà ¡an BeslaÃÂ, Marko PaviÃÂeviÃÂ, Arijan LakiÃÂ, Zoran PaunoviÃÂ, and ÃÂorÃÂe Paà ¾in.
After he got appointed as an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, head coach Igor Kokoà ¡kov parted ways with the Basketball Federation of Serbia as the Serbian team coach on 14 September 2021. On 28 September, the Federation hired Svetislav Peà ¡iàas the new head coach for the Serbia men's national team. On the next day, the Federation hired Dragan Tarlaàas the new national team director. In November 2021, Oliver KostiÃÂ, Marko MarinoviÃÂ, and Nenad Truniàwere named assistant coaches. In February 2022, head coach Peà ¡iàadded assistant coach Vladimir JovanoviÃÂ, scout Miloà ¡ Isakov KovaÃÂeviÃÂ, and physiotherapist ÃÂorÃÂe Miloà ¡eviàto his staff.
<small>Age â describes age on 25 November 2021</small>
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Serbia played one exhibition game in June 2022. The game was played behind closed doors without any game reports or statements given after the game.
As one of the 24 national teams that qualified for EuroBasket 2022, Serbia automatically qualified for the First round. Serbia was seeded in the Seed 1. The draw for the First round was held on 31 August 2021 in Mies, Switzerland. Serbia was drawn into the Group A with the Latvia, Belgium, and Slovakia. These matches was played in three windows in November 2021, February 2022, and June/July 2022 with two games played by each team in every window.
Group A is one of eight qualifiers groups of four teams. The groups will be conducted in a round-robin system, with each team playing all other teams in the respective group in home and away games. If Serbia finishes as one of the top three teams in its group, they will advance to the Second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification and will play against top three finishers of Group B, which is composed of Belarus, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey. In February 2022, following a 3âÂÂ1 record in the first four matches, Serbia secured their place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European qualifiers.
Latvian guard Rihards Lomaà ¾s scored 33 points including six of theirs 16 three-pointers, but it was still Serbia who were left celebrating at the end of a thrilling duel in the Aleksandar NikoliàHall, Belgrade. In his debut at the Serbia's bench, Svetislav Peà ¡iàoversaw his side's 101âÂÂ100 triumph sealing victory in the closing seconds to start their quest towards the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Latvia looked to be heading to a big victory as triple after triple rained down on the court in Belgrade, but the hosts stayed alive and overturned a 93âÂÂ88 deficit with three minutes to go. Serbia took the lead inside the final minute and had another chance after Latvia leveled with Serbian forward Marko JagodiÃÂ-Kuridà ¾a sinking the decisive free throw for the win. Serbian guard Miloà ¡ Teodosiàcame off the bench with a typically instrumental performance to contribute an efficient 21 points along with 9 assists and was backed up by a string of valuable displays, including that of Aleksa AvramoviÃÂ, who had 17 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. The game was played at a frantic pace and both teams shot above 70-percent from inside the arc and in a game of small margins, Serbia out-rebounded their opponents 29âÂÂ20 and had the edge on second chance points at 11âÂÂ6. Latvia had the lead for over 25 minutes, but not when it counted as the final buzzer sounded. Plenty to build from for both sides and Serbia will be mightily relieved to get off to a winning start.
In after-game interviews, Serbian players dedicated their victory to Stevan Jelovac, a former Serbian national team player who suffered a brain hemorrhage during an AEK practice session ten days prior to the game.
Forward Alen Smailagiàwas ruled out of the roster due to injury. He was replaced by center Filip Petruà ¡ev.
In the battle to finish the first window with a 2âÂÂ0 record, it was Belgium who prevailed to overcome Serbia in a 73âÂÂ69 victory for a perfect start to their 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers campaign. Belgian guard Sam Van Rossom stepped up to drain the go-ahead triple inside the final minute and added a late free throw to ice the game as Belgium produced a final flourish to take early control of Group A as the leaders. Serbia were in the ascendancy early on and moved 36âÂÂ22 ahead in the second quarter and were still ahead by double-digits late in the third. There was a brief delay before the start of the fourth and Belgium resumed reinvigorated with a 12âÂÂ2 start to take the lead and they would come through an exciting finish. Belgian center Ismaël Bako starred for the Belgian Lions with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in an action-packed display, while Van Rossom top scored with 20 points and was clutch in the closing minutes to help secure the victory. Serbia finished 57 percent from inside the arc, but their struggles from outside amplified in the final quarter as they missed all nine attempts from three-point range and were held to 3-of-15 overall in the fourth. Two from two for Belgium is the dream opening, while Serbia were on the wrong end of another close encounter to finish the November window at 11.
Serbia dropped Slovakia to 0âÂÂ3 with a 75âÂÂ63 win behind Aleksa AvramoviÃÂ's 14 points. Forward Marko JagodiÃÂ-Kuridà ¾a scored 13, as did guard Jovan Novak.
Once again, Serbia did not have things all their own way as Slovakia pushed them even closer in Levice before they prevailed for a 71âÂÂ63 success. Serbian guard Aleksa Avramoviàplayed a leading role with 24 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds in 30 minutes with teenage forward Nikola Joviàstepping up with a contribution of 13 points and 7 rebounds amongst the starting five. Center Duà ¡an Ristiàwas the third - and final - Serbian player in double figures with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with 8 rebounds and the starting center gave deserving praise to the opposition.
Latvia produced an impressive defensive display with a 66âÂÂ55 victory over Serbia to the delight of their home fans, in Riga. While points may not have been accumulated as easily as they did in the first meeting in November, there was still little to separate the teams in a tightly contested first half. Serbia had opened up a nine-point lead at 34âÂÂ25 before momentum swung in favor of Latvia with a 26âÂÂ4 spell across quarters with the visitors held to just 10 points in 15 second-half minutes. Forward Artà «rs Kurucs sparked the pivotal run in the third quarter with back-to-back threes for Latvia and finished with a team-high 13 points along with 4 rebounds and 6 assists in an all-round display. Latvian centers Klavs Cavars and Anà ¾ejs PaseÃÂà Âiks shared 19 points and 5 blocks between them as they set the tone in the paint in the defensive effort. Serbia were held to just 59 points â their lowest total in the World Cup Qualifiers â as they shot an uncharacteristic 21-of-60 from the field. An NBA forward Nemanja Bjelica was restricted to just a solitary point and guard Aleksa Avramoviàwas unable to add to his first-half tally of 16 points. Just what Latvia needed. If Belgium advance, as expected, then Luca Banchi's side will enter the Second Round at 2âÂÂ2. Meanwhile, early concern for Serbia as they now head back home with added pressure on their reverse fixture with Belgium.
The game was held in the ÃÂair Sports Center, Nià ¡. The game, originally scheduled for 3 July 2022 at 21:00, was postponed due to a lighting issue with just three minutes played and Belgium leading 6âÂÂ3, and rescheduled to 4 July 2022 at 19:00. The game was resumed with 7:54 to play in the first quarter and the score of 6âÂÂ3 in favor of Belgium.
Serbia and Belgium started their duel on Sunday, and saw it finish more than 24 hours later on Monday. Serbia held a 10-point lead with just four minutes left to play, but they learned a lesson about a typical Dario Gjergja-coached team, be it on national team level or on the club level. His teams are stubborn. If Gjergja is on the sideline, don't expect the white towel at any point. Guard Manu Lecomte came up big in the clutch minutes. At 71âÂÂ61 from Serbia's point of view, the Belgian comeback started with a Hans Vanwijn layup. Forward Maxime De Zeeuw knocked down a triple on the next offense. Lecomte added another one two possessions later. Lecomte got an and-one to complete the 11âÂÂ0 run which got Belgium the lead heading into the last 120 seconds of the game. Serbia did briefly retake the lead on Ognjen Jaramaz's free throws. But with the game on the line, Lecomte get the game-winning layup to set the final score at 74âÂÂ73 about 26 hours after the tip-off.
In February 2022, following a 3âÂÂ1 record in the first four matches, Serbia secured their place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European qualifiers. They play against top three finishers of Group B, Great Britain, Greece, and Turkey. In March 2022, the fourth contestant of Group B, Belarus was expelled from the competition following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As only three teams played in the Group B, after the disqualification of Belarus, the result of the qualified teams from Group A against the last-placed team will not be carried over. Following two losses in August 2022, Serbia advanced to the second round with a 1âÂÂ3 record.
Serbia got their bid to reach next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup back on track with an important 100âÂÂ94 overtime triumph against Greece in front of a European Qualifiers record crowd of 19,150. In a battle of two recent back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Players, it was Serbian center Nikola Jokiàwho prevailed over Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as bottom beat top to open up Group I in the Second Round. Serbia had the lead for 41âÂÂ23 of an enthralling contest, while Greece were only ahead for just over a minute. The depth for the hosts told with 33 points off the bench as they needed important contributions following an injury to Serbian guard Vasilije MiciÃÂ, who had started well. The Serbians had been ahead for the majority of the contest and moved up by 10 in the fourth before Greece rallied to make it a one-possession game. Serbia made some big shots, but Greek guard Tyler Dorsey tied the game with a corner triple to force overtime. It was Serbia who made the first move in the extra period and this time, they were able to close it out. Jokiàpaced Serbia with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the win, but there was a telling contribution off the bench from guard Ognjen Jaramaz: 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting including a huge three down the stretch in regulation. It was enough to fend off Giannis' European Qualifiers record-breaking effort of 40 points along with 8 boards and 5 assists. The Jokic-Giannis battle was epic and attention quickly turns to Sunday's games with Serbia visiting Turkey with the chance to move into the top three.
Serbia produced a near flawless first half as they led by 19 points as Serbian forward Nikola Kaliniàbeat the buzzer from inside his own half. However, Turkey rallied through their star trio of Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, and Alperen à Âengün as they eventually tied the game at 72âÂÂ72. Kaliniàresponded with a huge triple before a later offensive putback from Serbian center Nikola Jokiàput the finishing touches on the win. Jokiàmade it look easy at times and put together a clinic in the paint with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in just 11 minutes of action in the first half. It was a slightly different story after the break as Jokiàmostly sat on the bench watching Serbia's huge lead evaporate, but came up with an important score late on to finish with 24 points and 10 rebounds. There were also telling contributions from Kaliniàand guard Marko GuduriÃÂ. Turkey's starters combined for 65 of their 72 points but ran out of steam down the stretch after a huge effort in the second half. The hosts were down at 27 percent from three-point range and it was Serbia who made the big shots count in the final two minutes of the game. Serbia scored the final seven points of the game to fend off an epic fightback from Turkey and win 79âÂÂ72 on the road. The Serbians managed to prevent another famous sporting comeback in Istanbul to complete a perfect window having seen a lead as large as 21 points wiped out in the second half. The August window was bordering on make-or-break for Serbia with huge games with Greece and Turkey â they've beaten them both and reignited their campaign to move back to .500. In contrast, back-to-back defeats for Turkey dent their hopes of making it to the World Cup with a 2-4 record with the reverse fixture taking place in the next window in November.