Optimism Ahead of Season Start: 'We've Done a Very Good Job, We've Brought in Most of the Players We Wanted'

Following a championship-winning season, Cibona coach Ivan Rudež is optimistic about the team's prospects, stating they have "done a very good job" in assembling the roster. Rudež and sports director Marin Rozić have been busy negotiating player retention and securing new talent, both domestically and internationally.

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We have done a very good job, we have brought in most of the players we wanted.

The team has managed to keep several key players from their championship squad, including Serdarušić, Čarun, Bart, Katanović, and American Hepa. Notably, the club also supported the injured Palokaj by covering his surgery abroad and offering him a new contract, a move Rudež sees as demonstrating the club's "heart and respect."

Cibona has also added four promising Croatian players: Roko Badžim, Lovro Mazalin, Lovro Gnjidić, and Antonio Sikirić. Rudež described Mazalin as a "modern mobile five" who attracted interest from other clubs, Sikirić as a diligent young player, and Badžim as an experienced guard needed for his composure. Gnjidić is seen as a player on the rise, with the team aiming to be a "bridge for his maturation," despite acknowledging past oscillations in his career.

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The club has shown heart and respect. His surgery was paid for abroad and a new contract was offered. That is one of the ways this club wants to present itself.

The coach also addressed the "adaptation risk" associated with American players like McGill and Battle, noting that integrating foreign players into a team-oriented system can be unpredictable. However, he is pleased with the backcourt additions, expecting a variety of guard profiles to make it difficult for opponents to prepare. Gnjidić is noted for his height, speed, and passing; McGill for scoring and playmaking; and Battle for his shooting and ball-handling skills, with potential for further development within Cibona's program. Rudež emphasized the importance of "intel" – information gathered off the court – in player recruitment, relying on calls to former coaches and teammates to assess a player's character.

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We will have versatile guards. It is always good to have outside players of different profiles because then it is harder for the opponent to prepare for us.