Aleksandar Džikić
Encyclopedia
Aleksandar Džikić is Serbia
n basketball
coach who is currently head coach of BC Lietuvos rytas
.
's youth squad, before being promoted to second assistant for the Partizan full squad. In 1994 he was named lead assistant coach for KK Beovuk 72 before advancing to become the club's head coach for two seasons (1997–98 and 1999).
In 1999, Džikić was named first assistant coach to Duško Vujošević
at Partizan, helping the team to four consecutive Serbia and Montenegro
national championships from 2002 to 2005.
in 2005 with a lengthy international basketball resume. He became the first NBA assistant coach with no prior coaching experience in the United States
at either the collegiate or professional level. Additionally, he became just the second European native to become an NBA assistant coach, following the Pistons' Igor Kokoškov
.
Džikić was an assistant coach for the Timberwolves entry in the 2005 Minnesota Summer League at Target Center
. He has also spent time in summer leagues working with the coaching staffs of the San Antonio Spurs
and Seattle SuperSonics
. In 2007 he went back to Europe.
n team KK Union Olimpija
. Olimpija Union dismissed him in December 2008, after bad results in Adriatic League and Euroleague
and was replaced by Jure Zdovc
.
.
In his first season, Krka did not compete in Adriatic League thus fully focusing on the domestic league in Slovenia from the start of the season. Džikić led the club to the Premier A Slovenian League
title, the club's third in history, beating his old club Olimpija 3–2 in the playoff final series.
In the following 2010–11 season, he added to his success with Krka. Following the 17–9 regular season, they made the Adriatic League final four in Ljubljana
where they lost to old rivals Olimpija. Some ten days later Krka won the 2010–11
FIBA EuroChallenge
, defeating PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban in the final. Finally, they repeated as champions of Slovenian Basketball League
. Soon after the successful seasons with Krka, richer European clubs, like BC Khimki, expressed interest in his services.
On May 4, 2011, he got named the head coach of Serbian under-20 national team, in parallel with his duties at Krka. In July he led the team at the 16-squad 2011 European under-20 Championship
where they got eliminated at the group stage where they recorded a win versus Russia in the opening game, which was followed by two blowout losses to Montenegro and Slovenia. This sent the team to the 13th to 16th place classification round with Lithuania, Croatia and Austria with knowledge that bottom two teams would be relegated to European under-20 B division. Džikić's team finally got their act together, recording six assured wins to stay in the A division.
n team BC Lietuvos rytas
.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach who is currently head coach of BC Lietuvos rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
.
Early career
He began his coaching career in 1991 leading the KK PartizanKK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
's youth squad, before being promoted to second assistant for the Partizan full squad. In 1994 he was named lead assistant coach for KK Beovuk 72 before advancing to become the club's head coach for two seasons (1997–98 and 1999).
In 1999, Džikić was named first assistant coach to Duško Vujošević
Duško Vujoševic
Duško "Dule" Vujošević is a Montenegrin basketball coach. During his career, his greatest results were achieved with KK Partizan...
at Partizan, helping the team to four consecutive Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
national championships from 2002 to 2005.
Assistant coach in the NBA
Then, he came to the Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in 2005 with a lengthy international basketball resume. He became the first NBA assistant coach with no prior coaching experience in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at either the collegiate or professional level. Additionally, he became just the second European native to become an NBA assistant coach, following the Pistons' Igor Kokoškov
Igor Kokoskov
Igor Stefan Kokoškov is a Serbian assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association...
.
Džikić was an assistant coach for the Timberwolves entry in the 2005 Minnesota Summer League at Target Center
Target Center
The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is sponsored by Target Corporation. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 people. It contains 702 club seats and 68 suites....
. He has also spent time in summer leagues working with the coaching staffs of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
and Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. In 2007 he went back to Europe.
Union Olimpija
On January 7, 2008, after spent time in the United States, Džikić became head coach of SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n team KK Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
. Olimpija Union dismissed him in December 2008, after bad results in Adriatic League and Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and was replaced by Jure Zdovc
Jure Zdovc
Jurij "Jure" Zdovc is a retired Slovenian basketball player and the coach of BC Spartak Saint Petersburg.As junior he start to play for Comet Slovenske Konjice...
.
Krka
On July 15, 2009, he became head coach of KK Krka in SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
In his first season, Krka did not compete in Adriatic League thus fully focusing on the domestic league in Slovenia from the start of the season. Džikić led the club to the Premier A Slovenian League
Premier A Slovenian Basketball League
The Premier A Slovenian Basketball League , abbreviated as 1. A SKL and known for sponsorship reasons as the Telemach League , is the top-level professional men's basketball league in Slovenia...
title, the club's third in history, beating his old club Olimpija 3–2 in the playoff final series.
In the following 2010–11 season, he added to his success with Krka. Following the 17–9 regular season, they made the Adriatic League final four in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
where they lost to old rivals Olimpija. Some ten days later Krka won the 2010–11
EuroChallenge 2010–11
EuroChallenge 2010–11 is the eighth edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational men's professional club basketball EuroChallenge Tournament, organized by FIBA Europe.-Eurocup Qualifying Round:-EuroChallenge Qualifying Round:-Regular season:...
FIBA EuroChallenge
EuroChallenge
The EuroChallenge is the 3rd tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe. It is organized and run by FIBA Europe...
, defeating PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban in the final. Finally, they repeated as champions of Slovenian Basketball League
Premier A Slovenian Basketball League
The Premier A Slovenian Basketball League , abbreviated as 1. A SKL and known for sponsorship reasons as the Telemach League , is the top-level professional men's basketball league in Slovenia...
. Soon after the successful seasons with Krka, richer European clubs, like BC Khimki, expressed interest in his services.
On May 4, 2011, he got named the head coach of Serbian under-20 national team, in parallel with his duties at Krka. In July he led the team at the 16-squad 2011 European under-20 Championship
2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
The 2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship was the 14th edition of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. The competition featured 16 teams, held in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain from July 14–24. Spain became a champion for the first time.-Preliminary Round:...
where they got eliminated at the group stage where they recorded a win versus Russia in the opening game, which was followed by two blowout losses to Montenegro and Slovenia. This sent the team to the 13th to 16th place classification round with Lithuania, Croatia and Austria with knowledge that bottom two teams would be relegated to European under-20 B division. Džikić's team finally got their act together, recording six assured wins to stay in the A division.
Lietuvos rytas
In July 2011 he was named as the head coach of LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n team BC Lietuvos rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
.
External links
- Aleksandar Džikić at adriaticbasket.com