As the 2025-26 season approaches, Partizan Belgrade’s head coach, Zeljko Obradovic, has made it clear that the team is looking to strengthen its frontcourt. With a demanding schedule ahead, the coach highlighted the need for another tall player, often called a “big man,” to ensure the team has enough depth to handle the long season.
🎯 Targeting a Key Position
Coach Obradovic explained that the team’s original plan was to have six big men (power forwards and centers) to rotate through the many games and cover for potential injuries. “When we were making the plan for this season, we knew that we had to count on injuries and a large number of games,” he said. The search for a new player has been ongoing all summer, but for various reasons, they have not yet managed to sign someone.
🤕 Dealing with Roster Gaps
The need for another player is more urgent due to the team’s current situation. At the moment, Partizan has four big men on its roster, but only two are fully healthy: Dylan Osetkowski and Jabari Parker. The other two, Tyrique Jones and Aleksej Pokuševski, are currently unavailable. “Of course we need another big man,” Obradovic stated, confirming the team’s priority in the transfer market.
🌏 Preseason Tour in Australia
The team is currently in Australia for the “Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament,” where they will play against Panathinaikos, Obradovic’s former team. The coach sees this tour as a valuable opportunity to assess his squad’s condition. While some players like Frank Ntilikina and the recovering Tyrique Jones are with the team, others are just returning. Vanja Marinkovic recently had his first practice, and Isaac Bonga is on a break after the European Championship. Obradovic plans to use these games to see where the team stands.
🗓️ Looking Ahead to the New Season
Partizan is gearing up for a busy start to their season. Their EuroLeague campaign kicks off on September 30th with an away game against the newcomer, Dubai Basketball. Shortly after, on October 6th, they will begin their ABA League season with a match against Krka Novo Mesto. Finding another big man will be crucial as they prepare to compete on multiple fronts.
