BallinEurope is previewing all 18 Euroleague Basketball teams over the next 18 days. We begin with the red side of Belgrade as Dusko Ivanovic looks to lead Crvena Zvezda to new heights
There have been changes, lots of changes, for Crvena Zvezda ahead of the 2023-24 Euroleague Basketball season. How will this cocktail mix for the coming season?
Last season
Euroleague record: 17-17
Regular season position: 10th
Playoffs: N/A
ABA Liga record: 23-3
Regular season position: 2nd
Playoffs: Lost final (Partizan) 3-2
Other: Won Serbian league and Serbia Cup
Who’s gone?
Miroslav Raduljica (Marousi), Lazar Djokovic (Xavier, NCAA), Hassan Martin (Shimane Sussano), Ognjen Dobric (Virtus Bologna), Filip Petrusev (Philadelphia 76ers), Luca Vildoza (Panathinaikos), Facundo Campazzo (Real Madrid), Benjamin Bentil (Gunma Crane Thunder), Nikola Ivanovic (Runa), John Holland (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Stefan Markovic (retired).
Who is new?
Nemanja Bjelica (Fenerbahce), Rokas Giedraitis (Baskonia), Joel Bolomboy (Olympiacos), Mike Tober (FC Barcelona), Milos Teodosic (Virtus Bologna), Adam Hanga (Real Madrid), Marko Simonovic (Chicago Bulls, NBA), Shabazz Napier (Olimpia Milano), Yago Dos Santos (Ratiopharm Ulm), Dejan Davidovac (CSKA Moscow).
Who stayed?
Dusko Ivanovic (coach), Branko Lazic, Ognjen Kuzmic, Luka Mitrovic, Stefan Lazarevic, Nikola Topic.
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Need to know
This change is substantial. There are only five players still with the team from last year and it is quite the mix of incomings and outgoings from the Crvena Zvezda squad. That makes chemistry the biggest challenge for Dusko Ivanovic. He’s got the talent, this is certainly an improved roster from last season, but now he needs make it work together in a fairly short timeframe.
What the bookies think
For all the change, the sportsbooks expect things to stay exactly the same for Crvena Zvezda this season. The men in red are priced at 20/1 to win Euroleague and rank 10th among all teams in Euroleague Basketball betting.
What we think
This is going to be one fascinating team to watch. Normally this level of turnover means one of two things. Either the team is about to make a steep drop in quality or the banter years are under way. Neither of these seem plausible with the roster shake-up at Zvezda. They just look like a better team than a year ago on paper.
Milos Teodosic will effectively be on a retirement tour here but the other additions are really promising. On the whole, this team should finish with more wins than losses this season. One thing is certain. With that much staff turnover, Crvena Zvezda should be grateful there are no salary caps in Euroleague. That many moves being managed with a cap would break anyone’s brain.
Fearless prediction
I look at what’s below Crvena Zvezda in the betting markets and I don’t see any team that should finish above them. I look at what’s above Zvezda and I think the playoffs are realistic if not a certainty. I’m leaning to them making a step up in wins and losses. Not by a huge amount however but just enough to make it count.
Pick: 8th place in the regular season
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