Maljkovic: “If Picasso didn’t complain about Malaga, how could I…”

It is certain that one of the most emotional moments of the entrance party of the third promotion of the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame will live withn Bozidar Maljkovic’s speech. Born in Otocac on April 20, 1952, the explosion of Jugoplastika launched him to fame. In Spain, he managed Barça, Unicaja, Real Madrid and Baskonia.

What does being inducted into the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame mean for you?

I would say it is the most important recognition of my life. Since I retired from basketball in 2013 I have had great recognition. I have been named adopted son of different cities. But when they told me that I was entering the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame, the satisfaction was maximum. It seems that Spanish basketball recognizes my ten years of daily work there. I can say thanks to Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Baskonia and Unicaja, especially the people from Malaga. I think that the foundations for the successes that were later achieved with Sergio Scariolo were laid there. I personally don’t like these awards. Sometimes they have some politics, I don’t know. But Spain is the first country to reward me and that confirms so many good times there…

When did you know Spain?

I knew him especially through Jugoplastika. I would say that I know Spain better than a Spaniard. We played many tournaments, from A Coruña to Puerto Real. Cities, small towns. I fell in love with Spain. I have so many memories. The first, playing a tournament with Red Star when he was Ranko Zeravica’s assistant. Then I met Eduardo Portela, a wonderful person who has built the most prestigious league in the world. He told me that I should work in Spain. I have known him for many years and his wife, María Planas, who I know is in the Hall of Fame and is a wonderful person as well. And then it happened, I worked in Spain. And for me, the other unforgettable memory is the Korac conquered with Unicaja. We visited the grave of Radivoj Korac, who had died at the age of 31. He was a wonderful person. He wanted the players to be there and I wanted to win that competition, because I knew that FIBA ​​was studying changes and could disappear. The night before I had hired an orchestra at the Hyatt hotel in Belgrade. I even sang my pieces… (Unicaja won that penultimate Korac in history against Hemofarm Vrsac, a Yugoslav team at that time).

But before Malaga he had trained in Barcelona. You were the successful coach in Europe.

Jugoplastika had offered me a life contract and I thought about it. But I wanted to try with Barça. I will always remember my first day in Barcelona. It was Sunday. I was welcomed by Manolo Flores, Valero Rivera; and a man, Óscar… I discovered the Salamanca restaurant in Barceloneta… My daughter was recently there and she told me that my photos are no longer there… I always call Manolo Flores brother. Like Valero. I’ll tell you one thing.

Say.

I was in Doha recently with the Serbian Olympic Committee, of which I am now president. We were in the middle of a game and Valero’s wife came and she told me: ‘Boza, don’t leave now.’ Sheikh Al-Thani gave me a huge golden ball… We are very close. I also remember José Vendrell, that he was a discreet man and that he also helped me a lot in Barcelona.

I remember from his time in Malaga a talk he once gave at the headquarters of the Unicaja banking entity in which he told his assistant as soon as he arrived that they were going to be there for a long time, as if they were having a bloodletting and he was loving that.

The journalists asked me if I liked the city when I arrived; I answered that if Picasso had no complaints, how could I have any… I spent some wonderful years in Malaga, with a fan who understood basketball and lived the club… I can proudly say that there is no player I have had with whom you have not had contact. That for me is very important. What am I going to say about Malaga. I don’t know an athlete who has played in Malaga and who doesn’t have a home there. I’ll tell you an anecdote.

Count.

Once, when I was coach of Limoges, who will already know that we did a great feat there by winning the European Cup, I went to dinner at the Rodon restaurant. The owner was there and he told me he was sorry, but they were closed. I told him that it seemed impossible to me because he saw the place open, but he replied that the cook had already left and that they couldn’t prepare anything for us. That in Spain is unfeasible. Anywhere they would give me some pata negra ham, cheese and good wine. Nobody would tell you that they don’t give you dinner. What’s more, that cook might not work there anymore…

Is it true that Kukoc had a signed contract to play for Barça?

I had signed the contract with Kukoc. But due to a well-known story that I do not want to repeat, that was not done. Imagine what that Barça team would have been like with Kukoc… I was in Sarajevo very recently. A film about Toni was released there. That looked like Las Vegas, there were 3,500 people. I appear quite a bit in the movie. It was my turn to speak and they gave me an incredible ovation that I carry within me. It then premiered in Split. I entered the room with Dino Radja’s mother and the same thing happened to me. They were applauding me for minutes…

You were very close to that team, right?

As I told you, I have an excellent relationship with everyone who has been my players. Sometimes they still call me to ask me for advice on a personal issue they want to ask, about doing a business, buying a house… these last two years have been very painful for me. In December 2021, Sobin died; and in April 2022, Sretenovic, two former Jugoplastika players. I locked myself in my office one day and cried for a long time. It hurt me a lot. But life goes on.,,

As president of the Serbian Olympic Committee, I assume you are happy that the men’s basketball team made it into the Games after a great and unexpected World Cup.

Notice that we didn’t have the NBA MVP, Jokic. Nor to Micic, MVP of the Euroleague. Not even Kalinic. I think we come together and bring out the best in each other. As in all sports. There you have Djokovic’s season. And we have Ivana Spanovic, world champion in long distance. By the way, she already announced that everyone will be in Paris, Jokic included. The Paris Games are going to be a party and I trust that Serbian sports will have a great participation.

His daughter coaches the women’s team. Do you also see them in Paris like the boys?

It’s difficult because they are in the process of renovation. She has many successes behind her as a coach and she is going to try but six or seven of the main players will not be there. We will see.

Will you be in Seville?

Of course. On the 12th we will go to Marbella and I will go with my wife, Gordana. I’ve been with her for fifty years, I can’t think of better company.

He makes his entry at the same time as legends like Pau Gasol…

In the 2001 Malaga Cup I already said that he was the best center in Europe… With Radja and Sabonis he is part of the best trio of centers in European history. We recently spoke on the phone one day. I believed in some story from the Olympic Committee and they gave me a video call…

By the way, since you talked about Salamanca de la Barceloneta. Do you recommend any restaurants in Andalusia?

I have too many friends there and some of them are going to annoy me (laughs)… But I really like the Open Sea in San Pedro de Alcántara…