Nikola Kalinic revealed that he turned down an approach from Anadolu Efes because of his respect for Fenerbahce, explaining where he draws the line when it comes to joining a rival.
Nikola Kalinic discussed the subject while appearing on the “Luka and Kuzma” podcast, with Luca Vildoza’s move to Partizan providing the starting point for a wider conversation about some of the biggest rivalries in European basketball. Kalinic has since ended his playing career and joined Crvena Zvezda’s coaching staff, where he will begin a new chapter after spending the previous two seasons with the club as a player.
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Kalinic explains his view on Vildoza’s move to Partizan
Vildoza’s decision to join Partizan after playing for Crvena Zvezda generated plenty of reactions, but Kalinic does not believe the move should be viewed as such a major story.
“One foreign player moved to Partizan, why would we even discuss it? Everything becomes a big deal. Everyone is on their phones, they’re bored, so they comment. Why is that even news?” Kalinic said.
He stressed that Vildoza is not a domestic player who spent a decade at Crvena Zvezda, nor someone who built a lasting legacy with the club.
“Was Crvena Zvezda offering him a contract? No. Was Partizan offering him a contract? Yes. I don’t know why it’s so important. He’s not a domestic player, nor someone who left a deep mark, like a player who spent 10 years at Zvezda.”
“Anadolu Efes called me”
Nikola Kalinic spent five seasons with Fenerbahce, winning the EuroLeague in 2017 and becoming an important part of one of the club’s most successful eras. That history influenced his decision when Anadolu Efes later showed interest.
“Anadolu Efes called me, but I didn’t want to go. Out of respect for Fenerbahce, I wouldn’t do that. That’s my stance,” Kalinic said.
The rivalry had also become deeply personal on the court during his Fenerbahce years. Anadolu Efes eventually built a team capable of dominating the matchup, with Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic at the center of its rise.
“For two or three years, we had the upper hand against them, and then suddenly everything turned around. At one point, we couldn’t beat them at all. It was incredible. That was the team with Larkin and Micic.”
Nikola Kalinic recalls Zeljko Obradovic’s approach
The same principle also came up when Kalinic recalled a conversation with Zeljko Obradovic about a potential move to Partizan.
According to Kalinic, Obradovic was essentially testing the waters to see whether he would even be willing to discuss the possibility.
“That was more of a conversation about whether we should even talk about that subject. Why would I do that to myself? Some people want that, some people are inspired by it.”
Kalinic then pointed to Vassilis Spanoulis as an example of how the same situation can produce a completely different reaction.
“Spanoulis is the best example of that. He thought they didn’t appreciate him enough at Panathinaikos, he went to Olympiacos and became a legend. Someone can use that as fuel.”
