"I think Serbia is currently producing the best players in the world" - Adrian Wojnarowski breaks down why Serbian players are so dominant in today's game originally appeared on Basketball Network .
After finishing his journalism career, Adrian Wojnarowski , one of the most renowned basketball insiders ever, didn't slow down; in fact, he even picked up the pace. For the second time in just a few months, he finds himself in the Serbian capital, Belgrade.
As the general manager of St. Bonaventure College, he closely follows and recruits players from around the world. His return to Serbia only reinforces a theory that gained traction after Team USA narrowly defeated Serbia in the Olympic semifinals in Paris: international, and especially Serbian players, are getting closer and closer to Americans in terms of talent.
Wojnarowski is fully aware that the future lies in recruiting international players, given the way they've taken over the league in recent years. But there's something about Serbian players that intrigues him in particular, as he admitted in an interview with Mozzart Sport.
"I think Serbia is currently producing the best players in the world," he said . "Players who play hard, put the team before themselves, and are well-coached — these are typical traits of Serbian players. Whether they're playing in domestic leagues, the EuroLeague, or the NBA, they all have that same consistency. They're fierce and hungry, and that's exactly what we want at St. Bonaventure."
It's clear that the team spirit, which stood out last summer in Paris, left a strong impression on the former NBA insider. With the introduction of new NIL rules allowing players to get paid before reaching the NBA, Wojnarowski realizes that all roads for young players now lead to the NCAA — and he's wasting no time.
He also touched on the greatest Serbian player of all time, Nikola Jokic , whom he highly praises.
"It's clear we can place him at the top of the list of best centers ever, but also in the top 10 players of all time. He built his way there. He's one of the most unique players we've ever seen. He plays at his own pace, regardless of the opponent or their style. He dictates the rhythm of the game in a way that very few can. He's always been loyal to Denver, has great relationships with the ownership and front office. Together, they won a championship ring, and I'd honestly be surprised if he played anywhere else — but in the NBA, you never know," Adrian concluded.
Jokic's story is truly about overcoming the odds. He was selected 41st overall in the second round of the draft, during a Taco Bell commercial, no less, and nobody could have predicted that a man from the small Serbian town of Sombor would soon become a three-time league MVP and NBA champion. Jokic brought even more attention to European players, especially Serbians.
His basketball journey began with the Serbian club Mega. That might not sound interesting at first, but when you consider that Ivica Zubac, Nikola Jovic, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Nikola Topic and Goga Bitadze all came from that same club, you have to ask yourself: how does a small Serbian team that doesn't even compete for the national title manage to produce 17 NBA picks in just 26 years of existence?
Jokic himself touched on that subject and how his love for basketball helped him overcome adversity when no one thought he would make it to the NBA.
"Play the game," he said . "Just enjoy it. Because at that moment I never thought I'm gonna do something big in basketball. I was just trying to play. Just play and enjoy the game if you love it. If you don't love it, find something that you love."
Through his fundamentally sound style, The Joker embodies basketball in its purest form — a game meant to be played with joy and intelligence. And Wojnarowski sees that same essence in young Serbian players, who share that creative flair and remarkable understanding of the game.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
