Unicaja Malaga player, Nihad Djedovic, spoke exclusively to Basketball Sphere ahead of the Spanish Copa del Rey.
The former Bosnia and Herzegovina national team member is playing his fourth season in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and his team is delivering phenomenal results. What stands out about Unicaja is their true embodiment of the word “team,” something Djedovic elaborated on in our conversation.
He found time for the interview between two training sessions, practically a day before the team’s departure for the Copa del Rey. This year, Gran Canaria is hosting the prestigious tournament, where Unicaja will compete alongside Real Madrid, Valencia, Tenerife, Barcelona, Joventut, Manresa, and the host team.
Copa del Rey – An Unbelievable Experience
“We are getting ready, we have one more training session before we head to Gran Canaria. The trip will take almost three hours, but it is always exciting. The Copa del Rey is an incredible event, always excellently organized, and I really look forward to this tournament. Eight teams, eight different fan bases, all cheering together. It is an amazing experience, and on top of that, the basketball played is of the highest quality.
When we played in Badalona for the first time, I was mesmerized, even though I had already played for Barcelona before. But at that time, I was much younger and could not fully appreciate it. Last year in Malaga was also fantastic, so I am truly excited for this year’s edition,” said Djedovic.
Unicaja won the Copa del Rey two seasons ago, defeating Tenerife in the final in Badalona. Our conversation continued on the topic of Spanish basketball and the fierce competition in the Endesa League:
“I can confirm from experience that Spanish basketball is the best basketball played. If we put aside big names from other leagues, the Spanish style of play and their basketball philosophy make every game unpredictable. Anyone can beat anyone, and the league’s quality is exceptional.
Valencia is a EuroLeague team with a huge budget, and I believe we would not struggle in the EuroLeague either. Barcelona and Real Madrid, no matter how many ups and downs they have, still command respect when you step on the court and see those jerseys. We are at the top of the standings, but that does not mean much going into the Copa del Rey. We enter with great ambition but also with caution.”
❤️ 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫.
— #CopaACB (@ACBCOM) February 12, 2025
(Del lat. saltāre 'danzar, bailar', intens. de salīre.).
produce endorfinas, alegría, libera tensiones, reduce el estrés, mejora la salud
1⃣ día para SALTAR.
1⃣ día para que arranque la #CopaACB 2025.
Aquí hemos venido a saltar.
Aquí… hemos venido a jugar. pic.twitter.com/vCUrrWcG0g
Unicaja’s Dominant Season
Unicaja’s exceptional season is best reflected in statistics and achievements. After winning the Copa del Rey two seasons ago, Djedovic and his team claimed the FIBA Basketball Champions League title at the end of the 2023/2024 campaign. They then kicked off the new season by lifting the FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy in Singapore.
Their success did not stop there, as they defeated Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercup. Currently, they sit near the top of the Endesa League standings with a 15-5 record. Additionally, Unicaja broke Monaco’s record in the FIBA Champions League by securing 18 consecutive wins, with a chance to extend that streak in upcoming games.
Success as the Result of Hard Work and a Strong System
Unicaja’s success is the product of a well-established system, as the team has largely retained its core from last season, adding only Alexander Balcerowski. Nihad Djedovic reflected on the club’s rise:
“We started well, and it is much easier when you have the same players and the same system. When I arrived three and a half years ago, the results were not great—I remember the team finishing 11th and 12th in back-to-back seasons. Survival was secured only a few rounds before the end of the season. That was when the club decided to make a major change, bringing in nine new players. I was part of that group, and from the very first training session, we established a long-term vision.
I came in with that mentality because I spent nine years at Bayern and was not used to changing teams frequently. Some players had a different approach, playing for individual stats rather than team success, expecting to get a new contract that way. It was not easy to change that mindset, especially for foreign players, but everyone sacrificed for the team. I always knew that when the team succeeds, individual rewards follow, including new contracts.
🏆 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐨 #CopaACB 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐃𝐎
— UnicajaCB (@unicajaCB) February 10, 2025
💚💜 #YoSoyDelUnicaja @ACBCOM pic.twitter.com/kp5n0CDEOA
The club recognized this. When you have a group of quality players and good people, extending contracts becomes easy. I feel great here—Malaga is a beautiful city to live in, and the club has grown into one of the best in the Endesa League, just like it once was.
We are also dominant in the FIBA Champions League. With 18 consecutive wins, we broke Monaco’s record, and we are playing excellent basketball. The system is a bit different compared to Spain, and there are small details that make a big impact.
The biggest difference is the pace—fast inbound plays and fewer timeouts in the Endesa League make the game quicker. We are used to playing at a high tempo in the domestic league, whereas the FIBA Champions League can be slightly slower. That created some challenges for us at times, but we always found solutions. Our upcoming opponents are Galatasaray, Rytas, and Manisa, and I hope for good results.”
A Brief Look Back at Galatasaray Days
Since Unicaja will face Galatasaray in the FIBA Champions League, Djedovic reflected on his time at the Turkish club and how he almost played for Ergin Ataman:
“I played there when Oktay Mahmuti was the coach, and everything was set for me to stay. However, he had a conflict with the general manager and was replaced. At that time, Ergin Ataman was at Besiktas, where he achieved great success. He had a strong team with Pops Mensah-Bonsu, David Hawkins, Carlos Arroyo, and Zoran Erceg. After that season, all of them moved to Galatasaray, while I went to Alba Berlin.”
Returning to Where It All Began
From a young age, Nihad Djedovic experienced the intensity of the Bosna vs. Siroki rivalry, as the two teams battled for the Bosnian championship in back-to-back seasons in the early 2000s. In the second of those years, when Siroki defeated Bosna in Skenderija, a 16-year-old Djedovic was already part of the roster.
“When Neno Markovic was the coach, I was there for one year, and we lost the decisive game for the title. I played just one season for Bosna’s first team at 16 before moving on. But I felt the intensity of that derby against Siroki—it was always a big rivalry.
I still follow Bosna, and I see they are doing well in the BiH league and competing in the ABA League 2. They have increased their budget and signed quality players, which is a big step forward compared to previous years. Bosna is a legendary club from Sarajevo, a former European champion—why shouldn’t they work their way back to competing in Europe like Igokea?
That’s a great direction for them. As for myself, I haven’t really thought about finishing my career at Bosna. I don’t look that far ahead because I still feel great physically and can play at a high level. You never know what the future holds, so when that time comes, I’ll consider all options carefully.”
While Unicaja competes in the Copa del Rey, Bosna will be in Gradiska for the final stage of the Mirza Delibasic Cup, facing Siroki, Igokea, and Orlovik from Zepce, where Emir Preldzic currently plays. At the mention of Preldzic, Djedovic smiled, as he closely follows basketball in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A potential final between Bosna and Siroki could happen only if Bosna defeats Igokea and Siroki overcomes Orlovik.
The Evolution of the ABA League
Djedovic is a player who keeps up with basketball worldwide, so he shared his thoughts on how the Adriatic League has evolved over the years.
“A lot has changed over the years. There are now far more European games for teams that compete internationally. Crvena Zvezda and Partizan are in the EuroLeague and have rosters filled with top-level players. Buducnost and Cedevita Olimpija play well in the EuroCup, while Igokea and FMP compete in the FIBA Champions League.
Half the league is involved in European competitions. I can’t comment firsthand on the quality of play since I’m not there, but there is a clear gap between the top and bottom teams. It all depends on time and financial stability within clubs. I think the ABA League remains a great competition, not just for teams but also for young players looking to make a name for themselves.
A strong performance against Zvezda or Partizan can put you on the radar of top clubs. For example, if a player has a standout game against Zvezda, and then Barcelona scouts Zvezda and watches that game, suddenly that ‘kid’ is on their radar. Basketball works like that—the right opportunity can change everything. The internet has also made it much easier for players to get noticed if they have the right skills.”
From Bosna to Barcelona
When Nihad Djedovic packed his bags and set off for the Iberian Peninsula, he was still a teenager. At the time, he wasn’t fully aware of the magnitude of the move. Interestingly, Dusko Ivanovic was the head coach of Barcelona, while Zoran Savic served as the club’s general manager.
“It was an incredible experience. Looking back now, if you ask me whether I would change anything, of course I would. But at that moment, with the mindset I had, I gave everything I could. Only now do I fully realize what it meant to join a club like Barcelona. At the time, it didn’t feel that big—I just wanted to play basketball.
I played alongside legends like Juan Carlos Navarro, Gianluca Basile, Pepe Sanchez, and Rodrigo de la Fuente. I still remember my first training session—Pepe Sanchez drove me there. What a point guard he was, an incredible player, an Argentine national team star. But when you’re young, you don’t fully grasp these things. You have your ego, and my path led me through multiple loan spells. That’s just how it was meant to be because very few players from Barcelona’s youth ranks got a real chance—except for Navarro and Gasol.
I always tried to make the most of every loan move and every team I played for. Looking back, I can say I’ve reached the highest levels, won trophies, but also experienced the lowest points with injuries and defeats. When you start playing basketball, you dream of moments like these, and I lived through them all—that’s something I’m proud of.
It could have been better, it could have been worse, but I’m beyond happy. The easiest part is moving somewhere new—many of our players go abroad but don’t last long. Playing 20 years away from home isn’t easy. You have to adapt your mentality, understand the culture of the place you’re in, because at the end of the day, you’re a guest in someone else’s home. I embraced that and, in return, made many great friends along the way. That’s something I’m truly grateful for.”
Working with Coaches from the Balkans
Nihad Djedovic spent most of his career with Bayern Munich, where he played for nine years. Besides that, he also played for Alba Berlin in Germany, as well as for Roma, Bosna, and Barcelona earlier in his career, with loan spells at Cornella and Obradoiro.
Over the years, his coaches included well-known names from the region, aside from the already mentioned Dusko Ivanovic: Svetislav Pešic, Sasa Obradovic, Aleksandar Djordjevic, Andrea Trinchieri, and Dejan Radonjic.
“Since most of my coaches were from our region and spoke my language, it felt like I was a domestic player. I could understand everything—language, facial expressions, gestures—I carried that with me even after practice, while foreign players could only understand what was directly said to them.
Every coach brings his own experience, and I only remember the good times. A season lasts too long to have just one emotion toward a coach, whether it’s love or hate. Things change daily, from one month to another. Sometimes you play great, and everything is perfect with the coach, sometimes you don’t, but in the end, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of them.
I tried to take the best from each of them and forget the bad sides. There were ups and downs—I wasn’t perfect, and neither were they. But now, in the later stage of my career, all of those experiences mean a lot. I have been through so many different situations, both highs and lows. When you look back at everything you’ve gone through, you learn how to react the right way,” said Nihad Djedovic.
Svetislav Pesic
Svetislav Pesic is someone with whom our interviewee spent a significant period of time, and he spoke highly of the Serbian coach, who is widely regarded in Germany as a key figure in laying the foundation for much of what their national team has achieved in recent years.
“Svetislav Pesic is a great motivator, a serious coach who analyzes every possible situation—both on and off the court. He even analyzes journalists at press conferences; he always knows exactly what’s going on and how to structure communication with everyone. He is the type of person you should never underestimate.
Even when he says something at a press conference and it seems like he forgets about it, in 90% of cases, he does it on purpose. A sharp mind and a true motivator. His philosophy is based on constantly challenging his players, especially the best ones.”
Svetislav Pesic emphasized that he wants 12 true warriors on the team who will fight on the court from start to finish of the game. 🗣️🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/xiliQIBiDt
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) November 24, 2024
Always Pushing Players to Their Limits
“There is never any relaxation with him; he is always on the edge of provocation, and that’s how he gets the best out of his players. When you push a player, he wants to prove that he’s better than that, and that’s the way Pesic operates. I learned a lot under his leadership during the three years we spent together. Not just on the court, but also about human relationships, life, and everything that comes with it.
He is truly a great coach. Of course, he has his flaws—sometimes he crosses the line—but if I had to say one thing about him, it would be that he is an incredible motivator who always knows exactly which button to press.”
Svetislav Pesic's football skills. 🔙
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 30, 2024
Hey, @FCBBasketball, does your football club need another player? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ZjTxDT41M1
Bosnia and Herzegovina Closing in on the European Championship
Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently in a strong position to qualify for the European Championship. They are second in Group E with a 2-2 record, the same as third-placed Croatia, but Bosnia holds the head-to-head advantage. France leads the group with a perfect 4-0 record, while Cyprus, as one of the tournament hosts, sits at 0-4.
“I follow everything and watch the games, and this is a huge success—they are now just one step away from securing a spot at the European Championship. I hope France won’t slip up against Croatia in Jazine. It was a very smart move by Croatia to play there; that arena feels like a ‘living room,’ and they will pack it to the last seat, trying to use that factor to their advantage.
But I’m wary of the French because you never know with them—it all depends on their motivation. Still, everything is pretty much in Bosnia’s hands. The pieces have fallen into place, and I don’t think qualification for the European Championship should be in doubt.”
The Famous 2013 and “Teletovic from the Parking Lot”
At the 2013 European Championship, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a great chance to advance to the second phase, but things got complicated after a loss to Latvia.
Viral clips from that tournament remain unforgettable, featuring Mirza Teletovic draining impossible shots while commentator Edin Avdic erupted in disbelief. Nihad Djedovic was one of the leaders of that generation, and when the Bosnian Basketball Federation (KSBiH) fell short in its responsibilities, he stepped up—handling travel, accommodation, and logistics for the team.
“As for everything else, I really don’t know. Things can always be better. What happened, happened, and I think most people would have reacted the same way. I acted with my heart, but that’s not something that should even happen. The Federation should always have the necessary resources and organize things in the best way possible.
I feel bad for the younger generations in Bosnia and Herzegovina because right now, I don’t see a player who could make a real impact on the national team in five or six years. I haven’t seen that guy yet, and if there’s one thing I wish I could change, it would be that. But in the end, the ones in charge always know best,” Djedovic explained.
Aleksandar Petrovic as Head Coach
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coach at the time was Croatian tactician Aleksandar Petrovic, who is currently leading Brazil’s national team. Djedovic had nothing but praise for him, emphasizing how crucial it is for a national team coach to understand the players and maximize limited time and resources.
“A man with incredible experience who has been through it all. He always knows how to handle any situation, how to communicate, and he was both a great player and a fantastic coach and gentleman. We had an amazing experience with him—exactly the kind of coach you want in the summer. No stress, great training sessions, and a positive atmosphere. We had everything, and we had top-tier players together.
It’s a shame we couldn’t take that extra step forward. We lost to Latvia and then had to chase a result against Lithuania. I always enjoy seeing Coach Petrovic—we met last year at the Final Four of the FIBA Basketball Champions League in Belgrade.
You can’t spend ten months in one system and then learn 60 new plays in two weeks—it just doesn’t work that way. That’s why coaches like Pesic and Petrovic, who have that street-smart edge, excel. They mix wisdom with humor, keeping the motivation high while still being serious enough to get the best out of the team in a short period.
By the summer, players are already exhausted from the season—they’re fed up with being told where to stand and where to go. That frustration accumulates, and if the summer program isn’t managed right, it just won’t work.”
The Teammate Nihad Djedovic Learned the Most From
Throughout his illustrious career, Djedovic had the privilege of working with many elite-level coaches. However, when it comes to teammates, he singles out a well-known name in Balkan basketball:
“Overall, in terms of personality and professional conduct, I’d say Dusko Savanovic. We played together briefly—just two years in Munich—but it was truly an amazing experience. He was like a basketball encyclopedia, both on and off the court.
The ease with which he played, his way of thinking, and the advice he gave—it was something you’d want to sit down and take notes on. Even today, we stay in touch, see each other, and talk regularly. He’s definitely someone who changed my perspective and opened my mind to new ideas.”
“That’s a Really Tough Question”
At the end of the conversation, we asked Djedovic to name the toughest opponent he ever faced—someone who left a lasting impression. His answer, however, made it clear just how difficult that choice was:
“There have been so many players that it’s hard to pick just one. When I started playing, there were incredible players everywhere. Watching what Juan Carlos Navarro did in practice was pure madness. Every era has players who are extremely difficult to guard.
Today, you have guys like Mike James and Shane Larkin—absolute killers. Before that, my toughest opponents were Theo Papaloukas, Vassilis Spanoulis, and Dimitris Diamantidis. There’s no way I can pick just one—this is a really tough question (laughs).”
The Football Lookalike
Over the years, several photos and videos have surfaced online comparing Nihad Djedovic to none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. As we wrapped up the interview in a lighthearted mood, Djedovic shared his side of the story.
“It doesn’t happen as often now (laughs), but back when I had long hair, it was crazy. That’s when it all started. Even today, some people still make the connection, but nothing like back then—it was wild. Now that my kids are older, whenever they see Zlatan on TV, they think it’s me.
I always took it with a sense of humor. We even did some comedy skits about it when I played for Bayern in Miami. People would stop and stare, trying to figure out if it was really me. It even happened recently in Malaga—I was walking through the city, and someone did a double take.
I think it’s hilarious, but I never actually got the chance to meet Zlatan. I’m sure he’s noticed it, though. Once, when I was playing for Bayern in Tel Aviv against Maccabi, I got a call from Sweden—they wanted me to come over and film a skit about it. I ended up turning it down (laughs)”, Nihad Djedovic said for the end of conversations with Basketball Sphere.
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