'When Cibona was being formed, everyone asked if we could win the title. Then a strange thing happened in Belgrade'

Željko Pavličević, a Zagreb-born coach with a career spanning decades and continents, emphasizes that a strong leader is the most critical component of any successful basketball team. Pavličević, known for his eloquence and nicknamed 'Spiker' (Announcer), has had the fortune of coaching exceptional leaders, including Dražen Petrović at Cibona and Toni Kukoč at Jugoplastika.

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The most important thing in any team is the leader. I was very lucky. At Cibona, I succeeded Novosel and had Dražen Petrović as an undisputed leader. In Split, it was Toni Kukoč. After them, the entire team hierarchy was built.

Reflecting on the formation of the Cibona team in 1975 under Mirko Novosel, Pavličević noted initial successes with cup wins but a persistent question about winning the national championship. A pivotal moment arrived during a game in Belgrade where the opposing team missed crucial free throws, leading to overtime and a victory that psychologically transformed the team. Another significant turning point was the arrival of Krešimir Ćosić in 1982, which bolstered the team's belief in its capabilities, ultimately leading to a string of championships.

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When the Cibona team began to form in 1975, when Mirko Novosel arrived, we won some cups in the first four years, but it still wasn't the real thing. The question was already being asked whether we could win the championship of the former state. Then a rather unusual situation occurred in Belgrade, when the opponent missed two free throws that they normally didn't miss. It went into overtime, we won, and that completely changed the team's psychology. That was a key moment.

Pavličević's coaching career is intertwined with the golden era of Yugoslav basketball. He was part of Cibona's first European championship win in 1985 and, as head coach the following season with Dražen Petrović, repeated the success. He later achieved legendary status with Jugoplastika in 1991, leading a young team featuring Toni Kukoč to win all possible titles, including their third consecutive European championship.

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The second key moment was when Krešimir Ćosić came to the club in 1982, when we beat Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup final. Ćosić arrived like a bolt from the blue. We had a very good team, but it still didn't believe in its own strength. We had quality, but we didn't yet believe we could be the best.