Marko Barac, the former Bahcesehir head coach, spoke to Basketball Sphere about the Serbian national team, Dusan Alimpijevic, working with Nikola Jokic and many other aspects of his career.
Marko Barac parted ways with the Turkish club this summer, with Aleksandar Djordjevic taking over as his successor. However, following his excellent results, the Serbian coach earned a call-up to the national team staff.
He was part of Serbia’s coaching staff during the August qualifying window, when the “Eagles” recorded some very important victories. For Barac, it was a fantastic experience, something he made clear at the very beginning of his conversation with our portal.
“I’m certainly delighted. First and foremost, it is a great honour to be involved with our senior national team in every sense. Especially given that this window was very important for our potential qualification for the World Cup, which is ultimately the main goal for all of us. We are all here to serve Serbian basketball and our national team.
I’m pleased with the job we did against some very tricky opponents, and we all know that Italy has been a major problem for us over the past few years.” – Barac said to open the interview.
He is extremely grateful to Dusan Alimpijevic for the opportunity and believes that the Serbian head coach deserves much of the credit for creating the excellent atmosphere within the coaching staff.
“I think head coach Alimpijevic has done a great job creating the atmosphere within the coaching staff, and I firmly believe that is very important for the overall atmosphere within the national team. I share his view that everyone who can contribute should be part of the coaching staff. I have to say that it was a real pleasure for me.”
During this FIBA window, Marko Barac also had the opportunity to work with one of the best players on the planet, Nikola Jokic, who impressed him with his approach and commitment.
“Nikola is simply the best player in the world and he is the best in every aspect. Above all, he is characterized by a certain simplicity and normality in his everyday life, especially with this new role he took on in the national team, which he embraced wholeheartedly. He was a captain from the first day to the last.
What particularly stands out is his work ethic. The entire public already knows that he is a tremendous worker and a team player. Alongside all the undeniable qualities that come from his talent, he also possesses that work ethic and commitment to teamwork, which is what makes him the greatest. He is constantly working on himself, both before and after every practice, and that is something that has taken him to the top. His role as captain brought an incredible amount of positivity, support and stability to all of his teammates and members of the delegation. He is an example in every sense.” – the Serbian coach added.
Last season, our interviewee achieved excellent results with Bahcesehir. They were eliminated by Besiktas in the EuroCup semifinals, losing the series 2-0, while they also suffered defeat against the same opponent in the Turkish Super League playoffs, losing the series 3-2.
Despite those results, the season was considered a highly successful one for the club as a whole. Speaking to Basketball Sphere, Marko Barac briefly reflected on that period and revealed what he is most proud of.
“I’m most proud of the fact that I took a step forward and proved that I belong at that level. The next step was the adaptation process, which happened very quickly. Practically from the very beginning, we showed that we were ready for all the challenges the season had in store, and throughout the year we maintained more or less consistent results.
As a coach, what particularly makes me happy – and something I have strived for throughout my entire career – is seeing the quality of our play improve as the season progresses. It seems to me that those two playoff series showed that this was indeed the case. It was a great chapter and a valuable experience for me, as well as a good foundation for the future.”
Marko Barac and Dusan Alimpijevic went head-to-head on two fronts last season, but during the latest FIBA window they had the opportunity to be on the same side. Barac had nothing but praise for the Besiktas head coach.
“It is already well known that Dusan has left a significant mark on Turkish basketball, as well as European basketball, having been named the EuroCup Coach of the Year twice. That certainly shows what an outstanding coach he is.
I was already aware of his qualities, but now, after working closely with him, I can say that he is a modern coach who manages to instill his character in his team, and I’m glad that was also the case with the national team.” – Barac emphasized.
The former Bahcesehir coach was also the head coach of Mega from 2022 to 2025, where he left a significant mark. In all three seasons with the ABA League club, he led the team to the playoffs, with the 2023/24 campaign standing out in particular, as Mega finished fourth in the standings.
During that period, he had the opportunity to work with the current Crvena zvezda duo of Stefan Miljenovic and Nikola Djurisic.
“First of all, when it comes to Stefan, I can speak about him as a player with whom I had an outstanding relationship and say that he is one of those players who were a real pleasure to work with. He is the kind of guy who never gives up and someone you can go to war with. Everything good that is happening to him, he has absolutely earned through his tremendous work, character and dedication.”
“Nikola Djurisic is endlessly talented”
He then spoke in glowing terms about Djurisic, with whom he reunited this summer while working with the Serbian national team.
“He is a player I spent a lot of time with at Mega, someone whose development I watched closely and had a part in. It was a great pleasure for me that we all reached the point where the ABA League’s Best Young Player was drafted into the NBA. Obviously, a new chapter began for him after returning from the United States, but he is a player with endless talent.
He has all the tools needed to play basketball at the highest level and, knowing him and his winning mentality, I’m sure he is ready for new challenges. He just needs to stay healthy and avoid injuries.”
Aleksa Avramovic signed with Bahcesehir during the current offseason, and Marko Barac revealed whether he had any advice for the Serbian national team player.
“Aleksa is an experienced player who has pretty much seen it all in European basketball. From working with some of the biggest coaches and playing for the biggest clubs to competing in the EuroLeague, so he certainly doesn’t need much advice. What I wish for him, as well as for my former club, is plenty of health and success in the upcoming season.”
To conclude his conversation with our portal, ex-coach of Bahcesehir revealed what the next step in his coaching career will be.
“The plan is simply to wait for an offer that matches some of my ambitions and my vision of basketball. I’m someone who has devoted his entire life to this, and it’s always important to me that it is the right project – that there is a clear idea as to why someone is bringing me in as a coach and why I am choosing to go somewhere to work. I’m patient, I believe in my qualities, I know where I belong, and I have no doubt that the right opportunity will come sooner or later.” – he concluded.
