Jurij Macura talked with “Basketball Sphere”. His team, Krka, after a year-long “break” is once again part of the ABA League.
Krka swiftly returned to the ABA league and one of the players who decided to stay in Novo Mesto even during the challenging period was Jurij Macura. We discussed the reasons for such a decision and the importance that Gasper Okorn had in the whole story. Mega and FMP like his ex-teams were also topics of conversation.
An integral part of it all was Rok Stipcevic, one of the fan-favorite players. There’s also a charming anecdote among the situations that Jurij Macura, with a smile, did not “dare” to share without the veteran’s permission. In the end, we touched upon the Slovenian national team, which remains an unfulfilled desire for the Krka center when it comes to major competitions.
Our interlocutor had the chance to play alongside the Slovenian national team duo consisting of Luka Doncic and Goran Dragic.
“The decision”
After four wins out of 26 games played in the 2021/2022 season, Krka was at the bottom of the table, and it was clear that they would have to move to a lower tier of the ABA League. Jurij Macura revealed to us that in his plans for the past season, he did not see himself in the same team. However, the arrival of a new head coach made him reconsider.
“To be very honest, after that season when we got relegated from the ABA League, I had no intention of staying in Novo Mesto. Then, during the summer, they signed Gasper Okorn, with whom I have an excellent relationship. He is truly a great coach and invited me for a discussion. We talked about the upcoming season and the plan for Krka to return to the ABA League, aiming for it to once again become a stable club, which the region deserves.
Last season, we had many ups and downs, but we were a real team when it mattered the most. In the last part of the regular season, we played at a high level. By making it to the play-offs, we saw that we were on the right track, and everything made sense after the victory in the final against Helios.”
Rok Stipcevic as a leader and teammate
Like in Hollywood movies, the script for the Second ABA League final and the season’s final act came down to one game. With a two-point deficit at the free throw line, Rok Stipcevic took the stage. He was accurate both times, taking the game to overtime.
Fate played a trick on Krka’s players, as they faced another dramatic five minutes in overtime, only for the ball to “slip” from the basket during Helios’ attempt to win the trophy and advance to the ABA League. This way, the Croatian basketball player decided to hang up his sneakers at the age of 37. Like Jurij Macura, Stipcevic remained part of the team after relegation to a lower tier and then carried them on his back to where they belong. It somewhat reminds of what Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon did in Juventus jerseys.
“First and foremost, Rok is a good man! I felt that immediately from him during the year I joined. When he starts to play on the court, he’s like a pitbull. He refuses to lose, even if he is playing at 84 years old (laughs). I’m joking a bit, but he was a true leader on the court. Especially during that Second ABA League final stretch when it mattered the most.
There are so many anecdotes about him that it’s hard for me to pick one (laughs). Perhaps I’d say that Rok would call our physiotherapist before every game to apply magnesium oil on his legs. So, every time we finished a meeting with the coaches, Rok would shout: “GLI—–HAAAAA! RUB!”
After a few games, the rest of us learned this routine, so right after meetings, we’d all start shouting “GLI—–HAAAAA! RUB!” – Jurij Macura shared.
First experiences in the ABA League
Jurij Macura played in Spain for Baskonia’s second team, which competed in the third tier. He arrived in the ABA League for the first time before the 2019/2020 season, joining Mega’s roster. From that period, he highlights that the current assistant to Steve Kerr in the Golden State Warriors, and then head coach, Dejan Milojevic, helped him a lot.
“Mega was like an acclimatization to the ABA League for me. I came from Spain, where the basketball style is completely different. Especially when it comes to youth categories. Dejan Milojevic was of great help at that time. It was a wonderful experience working with him because he’s truly a great coach. He was demanding; we practiced a lot, but the progress was evident. I learned a lot at Mega, which then helped me in the subsequent seasons in the ABA League.”
Primorska as the most beautiful story of his career
“Primorska is a story of its own. I came to Koper during the coronavirus pandemic. Goran Jagodnik called me, and we discussed the team, gathering young players from Slovenia. Firstly, because our coach Andrej Zakelj wanted to give us a chance in the top league of that region, and secondly, and sadly, because they faced a financial crisis.
I had excellent cooperation with coach Zakelj. He had trust in my abilities because I always found ways to meet his demands. That way, I kind of ‘earned’ a bit of freedom in offense to showcase my repertoire. Excluding the club’s disbandment crisis, that remains the dearest period of my career so far.”
Episode in FMP
“I came to FMP right from Primorska after the club disbanded mid-season. They already had a full roster, and I arrived as the seventh player in frontcourt rotation. So, one game you play 20 minutes, the next you might not even be on the bench.
I must say that all my teammates and coaches were very kind to me. With several of them, I formed great relationships, became friends, and we still keep in regular contact.”
About Luka Doncic and Goran Dragic
Due to his impressive performances in the ABA League, Jurij Macura has been a part of the Slovenian national team several times. He played a significant role in the rotation during three qualification cycles for major tournaments, but he never made the list for the main event itself.
“I’ve played in these qualifications for years, but I missed two major tournaments due to injuries. Last year, I didn’t go to the Eurobasket due to the coach’s decision. When I get that national team call-up, it’s the greatest honor an individual can experience. Having the chance to represent your nation in a competition is a unique feeling. And it’s not about the money, but the pride and desire to represent your people!
Regardless, I had the chance to practice with Luka Doncic, which is a whole different dimension of basketball. The way he understands and plays basketball is amazing. The same can be said for everything I’ve experienced alongside Goran Dragic. He remains my favorite point guard I’ve had the opportunity to play with in my career! A maestro of basketball, an incredibly good person and a hard worker. This is best seen by the fact that at 37, he’s still playing in the NBA” – were the words with which the Krka player described the whole story about the national team.
The team, which plays its home games in the iconic “Leon Stukelj” arena, is now eagerly preparing for the upcoming season. At the end of our conversation, Jurij Macura summarized his impressions and the team’s expectations for the upcoming months:
“The expectations, like for any new member of the ABA League, are quite modest, even though we’ve played at this level before. I believe we have a good chance to avoid relegation, and maybe with a bit of sporting luck and a few good games, we could reach mid-table.”
