Longtime team captain and record-breaking figure of Crvena Zvezda, Branko Lazic, has officially made the decision to bring an end to his rich and trophy-laden playing career.
Symbolically, he shared the news of his retirement from the court during the 25th-anniversary celebration of the ABA League in Ljubljana, where he was presented with a special recognition award as the most decorated basketball player in the history of the regional competition.
Prestigious award in Ljubljana and an emotional message from the Lazic
Lazic addressed the attendees and the public via a video message, expressing deep gratitude to everyone who followed his athletic journey while using this historic moment to communicate his final decision:
“It is a great honor and pleasure to receive this recognition from the ABA League. Considering that I played in the regional league for my entire career, this award holds even greater significance. None of this would have been possible without my coaches, teammates, and fans who pushed us to achieve great victories and success. I want to congratulate the ABA League on its first 25 years and wish it many more to come. One last thing for the end, I would like to take this moment to announce the end of my playing career. I hope that in the future I will once again be a part of the ABA League. Until then, warm regards.”
7× #ABALiga champion. #ABALiga and @kkcrvenazvezda legend. 🙌
— AdmiralBet ABA League (@ABA_League) September 4, 2026
In a special video message, Branko Lazić announced that he is officially retiring from basketball, closing an unforgettable chapter as the most decorated player in ABA League history.
A true champion who left an… pic.twitter.com/T6LnKtrtFh
A decade and a half of Loyalty: 838 Games and 26 Trophies with Zvezda
After taking his first professional steps in an FMP jersey (2007–2011), Lazic joined Crvena Zvezda during the summer 2011 transfer window. What followed became one of the longest and most successful club stories in modern European basketball, spending the next 14 seasons in the red-and-white jersey and evolving into an undisputed leader both on and off the court. Driven by an impeccable work ethic and uncompromising defense, he became the absolute club record holder with 838 appearances, writing golden pages in the history of the Belgrade powerhouse.
Throughout his 14 years at Crvena Zvezda, he captured a remarkable 26 trophies. His extraordinary collection includes seven ABA League titles won in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024, making him the record holder of the regional competition. Alongside his regional dominance, he secured nine Serbian League (KLS) national championship titles, nine Radivoj Korać Cup trophies, and one ABA Super Cup victory.
Defensive stamp, national team silver, and an indelible legacy
Beyond championship rings and silverware, Lazic was named the ABA League Defensive Player of the Year three times during his career, establishing himself as a synonym for grit, selflessness, and relentless ball pressure against opposing guards.
He also achieved significant success with the Serbian national team, earning a silver medal at EuroBasket 2017 in Turkey. After nearly two decades of professional basketball, Lazic retires as an authentic symbol of the most successful era in Crvena Zvezda history and a player whose name will remain forever etched into the foundation of regional basketball.
