Branko Kovačević (basketball)

Branko Kovačević (Serbian Cyrillic: Бранко Ковачевић; born 15 March 1951) is a retired Yugoslav professional basketball player.

Branko Kovačević
Personal information
Born (1951-03-15) 15 March 1951
Valjevo, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Career information
NBA draft1973: undrafted
Playing career1969–1986
PositionSmall forward
Number14
Career history
1969–1978Metalac
1979–1984Crvena zvezda
1984–1986Smelt Olimpija

Playing career

Kovačević started his career in Valjevo, playing for a struggling Second Division side Metalac. He became a key player for Metalac, guiding them to promotion in First Federal Basketball League in 1973. With Kovačević as their best player and one of the best scorers in the entire First Division, Metalac spent memorable years in the top flight.[1] His brother Zoran played in the same time at that time. Over five seasons with Metalac, Kovačević averaged 25 points per game.[2]

In 1979, Kovačević signed for Crvena zvezda. He helped his team to reach the 1984 Korać Cup final, after scoring 34 points in the semi-final first leg against Zaragoza.[3][2]

After five years in the Zvezda, Kovačević signed for Smelt Olimpija. Once again, Kovačević managed to help his team gain promotion from First B Federal Basketball League.

National team career

Kovačević was a member of the Yugoslavia national junior team at the 1970 FIBA Europe Championship for Juniors. Over five tournament games, he averaged 3.4 points per game.[4]

Post-playing career

Kovačević was a sporting director for Crvena zvezda during late 1990s and through 2000s.[5][6][7] Also, he was a secretary general of the Belgrade Sports Association, board member of the Basketball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro, and deputy secretary general of the Crvena Zvezda Sports Society.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Branko "čovek-tim" Kovačević". kosmagazin.com. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  2. "Branko gromada, rušio poput tornada". sportklub.rs. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. "Zvezdinih 130 Saragosi..." mozzartsport.com. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  4. "Yugoslavia 8 - Branko Kovacevic". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  5. "Zvezda se pita!". novosti.rs. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  6. "Menjam Zvezdu". glas-javnosti.rs. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  7. "Nebojša Popović na čelu Zvezde!". glas-javnosti.rs. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
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