ISTANBUL

Besiktas GAIN men's basketball team head coach Dusan Alimpijevic said the foundation of their success is hard work, adding that he is pleased with the team’s consistent progress and growing chemistry.

Speaking to Anadolu, Alimpijevic stressed that the most important factor in continuing his career at Besiktas was sharing the same passion and working in full harmony with the club's management and technical staff.

"Two years ago, we were on the brink of relegation, but now our matches are sold out. We enjoy playing together. That's incredibly important. We achieve everything together. Most importantly, we have a really good rapport with the club's management, president, executives, general manager, and team. We share the same passion. That was one of the key factors in my decision," he said.

The Istanbul club started the Super Lig with eight wins out of eight for the first time in its history, and in the European Cup, they're tied for first place with six wins out of eight. Serbian coach Dusan Alimpijevic is also at the forefront of this success.

The Serbian coach mentioned that they have won 14 of the 16 matches played thus far.

"If anyone had predicted this before the season, we would have been delighted. It’s a tremendous achievement. We have ambitious goals this year and we’re progressing well. What matters most is not how you start, but how you finish. Ultimately, success means ending the season with a trophy. Our objectives haven’t changed -- we’re committed to doing our best in the league," he said.

Türkiye deserves gold medal at EuroBasket 2025

The Serbian head coach stated that Türkiye deserved the gold medal in the 2025 European Basketball Championship (EuroBasket 2025).

"Türkiye played the best basketball at EuroBasket 2025. Considering their energy, team chemistry, and every other aspect, they fully deserved the gold medal. If I’m not mistaken, eight of their 12 players compete in the Basketball Super League. I believe this is a very important asset for Türkiye," Alimpijevic said.

He added that Türkiye has made significant investments in basketball and given players substantial contracts.

"That’s why players in Türkiye can stay in their domestic league. This is a major problem in my country -- many of our national team players are forced to play in leagues outside the ABA League. But this isn't the case in Türkiye. That is a significant advantage for you," he said.

The 39-year-old also stated that Alperen Sengun performed at the European Championships at a level of performance that could have been equaled by more than half of the national team.

Alimpijevic, who believes Alperen, who plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA, will become even more valuable in the future, said, "Everyone knows that Alperen is a very strong, talented, and characterful player. The new generation of players has a slightly softer style of play. Alperen's toughness makes a significant difference."