Almost 17 years after one of the most memorable EuroLeague playoff series in Partizan’s history, Andrew Wisniewski still remembers the Serbian club’s victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The American guard, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2009-10 season, reflected on the unforgettable quarterfinal series in an interview with Skweek, discussing his respect for Partizan and head coach Dusko Vujosevic, the impact of Dusan Kecman’s incredible shooting display and the atmosphere that awaited Maccabi in Belgrade.
Partizan entered the series as the underdog but produced a stunning comeback in Game 1, overcoming a 21-point deficit to win 85-77 in Tel Aviv. Kecman scored a career-high 29 points on 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range as Partizan took a 1-0 lead.
“I always had tremendous respect for Partizan and coach Dusko Vujosevic. Personally, I thought I played well in that series, but it is still one of the toughest losses of my career because I truly believed we had a team capable of winning the EuroLeague.”
“Not every player that a portal reports as being in negotiations with Partizan was actually in negotiations. Here is a specific example. Nick Weiler-Babb was offered to us. We looked at the player and decided that he did not fit our vision.”
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 12, 2026
Partizan president Ostoja Mijailovic… pic.twitter.com/84nLZVNbi5
Wisniewski remembers how Kecman changed the series
Maccabi Tel Aviv looked firmly in control early in Game 1, building a 27-12 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 34-13 in the second.
Partizan gradually fought its way back, with Kecman and Bo McCalebb helping cut the deficit to 46-32 by halftime. The Serbian side continued to close the gap in the third quarter before opening the final period with a 12-1 run to take the lead. Kecman then hit another three-pointer as Partizan took control and never trailed again.
Looking back, Andrew Wisniewski believes the opening game ultimately proved decisive.
“In the end, I think the first game in Tel Aviv decided everything. We had a big lead and simply let it slip away.”
Kecman finished the game with seven three-pointers, a playoff single-game record at the time, while McCalebb contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Andrew Wisniewski still remembers Kecman’s remarkable shooting display.
“Damn Kecman… He simply couldn’t miss. You have to give him credit, he was unbelievable.”
The former Maccabi Tel Aviv guard also explained why Partizan presented such a difficult matchup, particularly because of the Serbian team’s physicality inside.
“We liked to play fast, but they were very physical in the paint with Aleks Maric, Lawrence Roberts and Jan Vesely. They punished us inside, and once Kecman started making shots, everything became even more difficult.”
Maccabi responded emphatically in Game 2, winning 98-78 to level the series. However, the decisive games then moved to Belgrade, where Partizan protected home court with an 81-73 victory before closing out the series 76-67 in Game 4.
“Most players simply aren’t prepared for how loud Belgrade really is”
With the series moving to Belgrade, Maccabi Tel Aviv faced a Partizan crowd of more than 20,000 fans.
For many of Wisniewski’s teammates, the environment was completely unfamiliar. The American, however, already knew what awaited them after beginning his European career with Crvena Zvezda.
“Many of my teammates had never experienced anything like Belgrade. I had. I kept telling them: ‘It is going to be incredibly difficult. We have to expect to start the game as if we are already down by 10 points.’”
The atmosphere, according to Wisniewski, gave Partizan another advantage while making the challenge even more difficult for Maccabi.
“That is the feeling the atmosphere there gives you. The fans give the home team extra energy while making life miserable for the opponent. We actually played well, but Partizan played even better.”
Wisniewski also praised Maccabi’s home crowd but insisted that Belgrade offered something different.
“Don’t get me wrong, Tel Aviv has one of the best basketball atmospheres in Europe. But Belgrade is on another level. Those fans demand another five percent from their players, and once they sense that the opponent is struggling, they don’t let up. Most players simply aren’t prepared for how loud it really is.”
Partizan’s 3-1 series victory sent the Serbian club to the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time in more than a decade. In Paris, Partizan lost both of its games in overtime, falling to Olympiacos in the semifinal before suffering a narrow defeat to CSKA Moscow in the third-place game.
