Milan Gurovic
Encyclopedia
Milan Gurović is a retired controversial Serbian professional basketball
player.
Gurović, a regular member of the FR Yugoslavia
/ Serbia and Montenegro
national team, turned out for many clubs all over Europe during his career.
Born and raised in Novi Sad to Serbian parents (father Božidar and mother Mara), both hailing from Trebinje
vicinity in Herzegovina
, young Milan practiced kung fu before taking up basketball. Gurović has a younger brother Veljko.
youth system.
By 1994, he entered their first team. As was the case with many young basketball players from former Yugoslavia at the time (mostly of Serbian
ethnicity), he also took Greek citizenship and thus competed as a domestic player.
Playing alongside another talented Serbian youngster and future star Marko Jarić
, it was not long before Gurović started showing his quality. By his fourth season with the club, 1997/98, he averaged 17.2 points per game.
For two years at Peristeri, Gurović was coached by compatriot Dragan Šakota
whom he credits for greatly helping him improve his game and find his footing in a foreign country at such a young age.
.
, however, he would not stay there for long as in late December 2000 after appearing in only 5 domestic league and 4 Euroleague games, Gurović transferred to Pallacanestro Trieste
of the Italian league where he played out the 2000/01 season.
. In his first season at Andalusia
, Gurović averaged 14 points per game over 32 regular season league games.
Summer 2002 would in many ways be the turning point in his career. Twenty six years of age by this time, Gurović made the final FR Yugoslavia 12-man squad for the World Championships in Indianapolis. His exceptional performance against the Americans in the quarterfinals capped off with two big three pointers in the last quarter further cemented his iconic status with Serbian fans, and also gained him a lot of attention internationally. As a result Boston Celtics
took notice and invited him to their pre-season camp. No deal was reached and he never went to the NBA
.
Back in Málaga for a second season, he featured in 30 regular season games averaging 10.3ppg as well as in sixteen Euroleague games where his scoring average was 12.7ppg.
. Prior to his final signature, he was heavily courted by KK Hemofarm
of nearby Vršac
, but in a sudden turnaround he decided to go with Vojvodina.
Following a season in his hometown, Gurović was getting ready to move again. During late summer 2004, he agreed terms with Russian club UNICS Kazan
from Tatarstan
province, but after arriving there in late August and early September to see the city and make living arrangements, he had a change of heart. Gurović said that Beslan school hostage crisis
going on at the time had a great effect on his decision not to go to Russia.
Finally in late October 2004, Gurović signed for Serbia-Montenegro champions KK Partizan
. Playing on three fronts: domestic league (still in the full format), Euroleague, and regional Adriatic League, Gurović posted a good season. He was also in the middle of controversy raised by Croatian public regarding the tattoo on Gurović's right shoulder. This was the first season
that KK Partizan particiated in the regional Balkans-wide league after years of pressure to join the competition. Suddenly, the Croatian media took issue with the tattoo of controversial World War II figure Draža Mihailović
on Gurović's arm and whipped up public sentiment against the player in the country. Due to fears of crowd trouble when Partizan plays away in Croatia, it was decided that Gurović would not be taken on those away trips.
Gurović was the best scorer and player of the ULEB Cup
during seasons 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 while playing for Red Star Belgrade. He has won the gold metal in the 2001 European Championship
and in the 2002 FIBA World Championship
as a member of the Yugoslavian National Basketball Team
. Zoran Slavnić, the coach of the national team of Serbia invited Gurović to play for his country in the 2007 European Championship
.
from the town of Sopot
. He, naturally, assumed the role of the team leader and memorably led the team to the Polish league title. His year in Poland was not without controversy either as on May 25, 2008 during game 4 of Polish Basketball League 2007/2008 Playoff Finals, Gurović got involved in an infamous brawl with two players from opposing team Turów Zgorzelec
- Iwo Kitzinger and Thomas Kelati
. After the incident authorities of the DBE took the decision that marked him as the fight's instigator and Milan has been suspended for game 5. He was also fined PLN20,000 (about €6,000).
, on August 8, 2008 it was announced that Gurović signed for Turkish club Galatasaray
.
On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, Milan Gurović announced his retirement from professional 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...
player.
Gurović, a regular member of the FR Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national basketball team
The Yugoslavian national basketball team represented the Kingdom and socialist Yugoslavia. Its of governing body was the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia, whose seat was in Belgrade....
/ Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia national basketball team
The Serbian national basketball team represents Serbia in international basketball matches....
national team, turned out for many clubs all over Europe during his career.
Born and raised in Novi Sad to Serbian parents (father Božidar and mother Mara), both hailing from Trebinje
Trebinje
Trebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
vicinity in Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
, young Milan practiced kung fu before taking up basketball. Gurović has a younger brother Veljko.
Greece
Marking himself out quickly as a talented youngster, he moved to Greece during summer 1992 just after his 16th birthday to join Peristeri BCPeristeri BC
Peristeri B.C. , is a Greek professional basketball club that was founded on October 22, 1971. The club is located in Peristeri, Greece, which is a suburban municipality of the city of Athens...
youth system.
By 1994, he entered their first team. As was the case with many young basketball players from former Yugoslavia at the time (mostly of Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
ethnicity), he also took Greek citizenship and thus competed as a domestic player.
Playing alongside another talented Serbian youngster and future star Marko Jarić
Marko Jaric
Marko Jarić is a Serbian professional basketball player. He is married to Brazilian model Adriana Lima.-Pro career:...
, it was not long before Gurović started showing his quality. By his fourth season with the club, 1997/98, he averaged 17.2 points per game.
For two years at Peristeri, Gurović was coached by compatriot Dragan Šakota
Dragan Šakota
Dragan Šakota ; born June 16, 1952 in Belgrade) is a Serbian former professional basketball player and current coach...
whom he credits for greatly helping him improve his game and find his footing in a foreign country at such a young age.
Spain
In the summer of 1998, he moved to FC Barcelona where he spent the next two seasons. In the 1998/99 season, he made a valuable contribution to Barcelona team winning the Spanish ACB League title and European Korać CupKorac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
.
Back to Greece and half-season in Italy
A return to Greece followed in the summer of 2000, this time with AEK AthensAEK Athens BC
AEK BC , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek professional sports basketball club based in Athens, Greece. The club was established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War ....
, however, he would not stay there for long as in late December 2000 after appearing in only 5 domestic league and 4 Euroleague games, Gurović transferred to Pallacanestro Trieste
Pallacanestro Trieste
Pallacanestro Trieste 2004, also known for sponsorship reasons as Acegas A.P.S. Trieste is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Trieste....
of the Italian league where he played out the 2000/01 season.
Back to Spain
He was on the move again in the summer 2001 transfer season with another return, this time back to Spain with CB Málaga led by Serbian coach Božidar MaljkovićBožidar Maljkovic
Božidar "Boža" Maljković is a Serbian basketball coach, one of the most successful in Europe, having won a title with practically all clubs he trained, including four Euroleague titles with three different clubs...
. In his first season at Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, Gurović averaged 14 points per game over 32 regular season league games.
Summer 2002 would in many ways be the turning point in his career. Twenty six years of age by this time, Gurović made the final FR Yugoslavia 12-man squad for the World Championships in Indianapolis. His exceptional performance against the Americans in the quarterfinals capped off with two big three pointers in the last quarter further cemented his iconic status with Serbian fans, and also gained him a lot of attention internationally. As a result Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
took notice and invited him to their pre-season camp. No deal was reached and he never went to the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Back in Málaga for a second season, he featured in 30 regular season games averaging 10.3ppg as well as in sixteen Euroleague games where his scoring average was 12.7ppg.
Return home for 4 seasons
What followed over the summer 2003 transfer season came as a surprise to many watchers. Citing a desire to be closer to his family, Gurović returned to his hometown Novi Sad, signing a contract with KK VojvodinaKK Vojvodina
KK Vojvodina Srbijagas is a professional basketball club from Novi Sad, Serbia. The club currently participates in the Basketball League of Serbia...
. Prior to his final signature, he was heavily courted by KK Hemofarm
KK Hemofarm
Košarkaški klub Hemofarm is a professional basketball club from Vršac, Serbia. The club currently participates in the Adriatic League and Serbian League...
of nearby Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
, but in a sudden turnaround he decided to go with Vojvodina.
Following a season in his hometown, Gurović was getting ready to move again. During late summer 2004, he agreed terms with Russian club UNICS Kazan
UNICS Kazan
UNICS Kazan is a professional basketball club in Kazan, Russia playing in the PBL. Their home arena is Basket Hall Arena.Though officially the professional club was founded in 1991 , UNICS traces its origin back to KSU's college team Burevestnik which participated in USSR student championships...
from Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
province, but after arriving there in late August and early September to see the city and make living arrangements, he had a change of heart. Gurović said that Beslan school hostage crisis
Beslan school hostage crisis
The Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking of over 1,100 people which ended in the deaths of over 380...
going on at the time had a great effect on his decision not to go to Russia.
Finally in late October 2004, Gurović signed for Serbia-Montenegro champions KK Partizan
KK 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....
. Playing on three fronts: domestic league (still in the full format), Euroleague, and regional Adriatic League, Gurović posted a good season. He was also in the middle of controversy raised by Croatian public regarding the tattoo on Gurović's right shoulder. This was the first season
ABA Goodyear League 2004–05
The league expanded for the second time since the inaugural season before the 2003/04 season.16 teams from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro participated in Goodyear League in its fourth season: Union Olimpija, Helios, Pivovarna Laško, Geoplin Slovan, Cibona VIP,...
that KK Partizan particiated in the regional Balkans-wide league after years of pressure to join the competition. Suddenly, the Croatian media took issue with the tattoo of controversial World War II figure Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
on Gurović's arm and whipped up public sentiment against the player in the country. Due to fears of crowd trouble when Partizan plays away in Croatia, it was decided that Gurović would not be taken on those away trips.
Gurović was the best scorer and player of the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
during seasons 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 while playing for Red Star Belgrade. He has won the gold metal in the 2001 European Championship
EuroBasket 2001
The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,...
and in the 2002 FIBA World Championship
2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from August 29 to September 8, 2002.-Venues:-Squads:...
as a member of the Yugoslavian National Basketball Team
Yugoslavia national basketball team
The Yugoslavian national basketball team represented the Kingdom and socialist Yugoslavia. Its of governing body was the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia, whose seat was in Belgrade....
. Zoran Slavnić, the coach of the national team of Serbia invited Gurović to play for his country in the 2007 European Championship
Eurobasket 2007
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
.
Season in Poland
Over the summer 2007 transfer window, 32-year-old Gurović signed for Polish club Prokom TreflProkom Trefl Sopot
Asseco Prokom Gdynia is a Polish professional basketball team, based in Gdynia, Poland. The team plays in the Polish Basketball League and the Euroleague...
from the town of Sopot
Sopot
Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000....
. He, naturally, assumed the role of the team leader and memorably led the team to the Polish league title. His year in Poland was not without controversy either as on May 25, 2008 during game 4 of Polish Basketball League 2007/2008 Playoff Finals, Gurović got involved in an infamous brawl with two players from opposing team Turów Zgorzelec
Turów Zgorzelec
PGE Turów Zgorzelec is a Polish professional basketball team that is based in Zgorzelec. The club plays in the Polska Liga Koszykówki and the Eurocup. The club's home court is Centrum Sportowe .- History :...
- Iwo Kitzinger and Thomas Kelati
Thomas Kelati
Thomas Kelati is a US-born Polish professional basketball player of Eritrean heritage who is currently playing for BC Khimki in the Russian Superleague. In 2010 he gained Polish citizenship through his wife and is eligible to play on the Poland national basketball team in international competition...
. After the incident authorities of the DBE took the decision that marked him as the fight's instigator and Milan has been suspended for game 5. He was also fined PLN20,000 (about €6,000).
Turkey
After reportedly being a transfer target of Russian club Triumph LyubertsyTriumph Lyubertsy
BC Triumph Lyubertsy Moscow Region is a Russian professional basketball team that is located in Lyubertsy, Moscow Oblast, Russia. The club competes in the PBL. Their home court is SH Triumph.-History:...
, on August 8, 2008 it was announced that Gurović signed for Turkish club Galatasaray
Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators...
.
On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, Milan Gurović announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Personal life & Anecdotes
- In addition to his native country SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , 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...
, he also has GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
citizenship, which he obtained for administrative reasons in order to be able to play without EUEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
restrictions in the Greek league like numerous other Serbian players such as Dragan TarlaćDragan TarlacDragan Tarlać is a retired Serbian / Greek professional basketball player. He played in the NBA. He is 2.11 m in height.-Europe:...
, Predrag StojakovićPredrag StojakovicPredrag Stojaković , also known by his nickname Peja , is a Serbian professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . Standing at 6 ft 10 , Stojaković plays the small forward position...
, Marko JarićMarko JaricMarko Jarić is a Serbian professional basketball player. He is married to Brazilian model Adriana Lima.-Pro career:...
, and Radoslav NesterovićRadoslav NesterovicRadoslav "Rašo" Nesterović , usually referred to in English as Rasho Nesterovic , is a retired Slovenian professional basketball player. He holds citizenship in both Slovenia and Greece. In the NBA he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Toronto Raptors...
. At the time (late 1990s), Gurović played for Peristeri BCPeristeri BCPeristeri B.C. , is a Greek professional basketball club that was founded on October 22, 1971. The club is located in Peristeri, Greece, which is a suburban municipality of the city of Athens...
where he started his basketball career. In order to get the citizenship, his last name was changed and thus competed under the name Milan Malatras while in Greece. The name change was required as it reflected the citizenship documents submitted. There are rumors that these documents were often falsified and subject to counterfeiting.
- While playing for KK PartizanKK PartizanKošarkaški 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....
Gurović was not let in Croatia and Bosnia to play a game because of his tattoo of WW2 Chetnik leader Draža MihailovićDraža MihailovicDragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
on his shoulder. Above that tattoo, he has a tattooed eagle.
- Serbian writer Biljana SrbljanovićBiljana SrbljanovicBiljana Srbljanović is a Serbian playwright and politician.She has written seven plays for the theater and one TV screenplay for Otvorena vrata TV series that ran on Radio Television of Serbia during the mid-1990s. Her plays have been staged in some 50 countries. Srbljanović is also a part-time...
referred to Gurović as "that tattooed fool" in her on-line exchange with Nebojša KrstićNebojša KrsticNebojša Krstić is an Advisor of the President of Serbia for public relations appointed by Boris Tadić. He was also a member of the Serbian rock band Idoli.- Biography :...
, the adviser to President of Serbia at her blog. When informed and asked by daily tabloid Kurir about Srbljanović's on-line comments, Gurović responded: "For her information, that 'tattooed fool' speaks, besides Serbian, three foreign languages. I know who this writer is and feel very sorry for her. Women of her age can do or say foolish stuff sometimes if they don't get their portion of cock in the morning. She must've awoken unfucked that day when she said this."http://arhiva.kurir-info.rs/Arhiva/2007/jul/25/SP-02-25072007.shtml?p=4
- Before joining KK Red Star he was a member of their arch rivals KK PartizanKK PartizanKošarkaški 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....
. Because of this he became main target for Partizan fans, GrobariGrobariGrobari are supporters of the Belgrade football club Partizan Belgrade. They are one of two major football fan groups in Serbia...
, who strongly supported him during Croatian ban. This culminated during final of Serbian league's playoff in 2007, when Grobari chanted insults and provocations from the stands targeting Milan's wife, children and parents. Milan responded and in TV interview said that "Grobari are cattleCattleCattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
". In the second game, when Red Star were hosts, incidents occurred on the stands between Red Star fans DelijeDelijeDelije roughly translated to English as Heroes is an umbrella name referring to the supporters of various sports clubs that compete under Red Star Belgrade Sports Society banner....
and police. Gurović tried to calm Red Star supporters and to defend them from police. Delije chanted "You are Zvezda's chetnik Milan" (Serbian : "Ti si Zvezdin Četnik Milane") and Gurović cried. In the third game Grobari used Milan's tears as provocation. They sang from the stands popular Serbian turbo-folkTurbo-folkTurbo-folk is a popular musical sub-genre that originated in Serbia, the Balkans. Having mainstream popularity in Serbia, although closely associated with Serbian performers, its sound is as popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro...
song "Obriši suze mala moja" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5htK6-nT-7I(English : Wipe tears my little one ). Partizan won series 3-1 and became Serbian champions.