FIBA: Serbian teenager Jovana Popovic is a budding girls’s hoops star

Jovana Popovic is among the most gifted and promising younger gamers in Europe.

Regardless of being simply 17 years previous, Popovic averaged 10.3 factors (59 p.c from the sphere), 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a couple of.8 steals per recreation within the First Girls’s Basketball League of Serbia. She will play as a degree guard, taking pictures guard or wing, as she did this season for ZKK Mega MIS Beograd, which misplaced just one recreation within the common season and received its first league championship this yr.

Photograph by Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos

When and the way did you get into basketball, and the way did you land in Mega MIS?

I began working towards basketball once I was 9. After swimming apply, I went to see one basketball apply and I favored it loads, so I began working towards basketball. I got here to Mega final yr, when coach Milan Vidosavljevic known as me. I needed to take a step ahead and to switch to Mega.

Ten factors, 4 assists, three rebounds and three steals per recreation. These are nice averages, not to mention by a participant who was simply 16 years previous. Had been you all the time assured in that you’d develop into the starter and have the season that you simply’ve had?

After I first got here to Mega, I used to be conscious that I wanted to show myself day by day in an effort to acquire the belief of my coaches and teammates.

What facets of your recreation had been you capable of enhance throughout your first yr at Mega MIS? How did your recreation change all through the season?

Training with the senior group and gamers which can be older than me helped me loads in my growth. Due to them, I considerably improved my recreation in each side, each on particular person and group degree.

And what about your growth exterior of basketball? You’re the playmaker, taking part in with extra skilled gamers, however you could acquire their belief in order for you them to be okay with placing the ball in your fingers. How had been you capable of constructed that belief and was there a second throughout the season whenever you felt that the group had your again?

For belief, time is essential. Laborious work, relationships with teammates each on and off the court docket, respect, all this stuff are essential in constructing belief. Group chemistry was nice, all of my teammates had been there to assist me and provides me useful recommendation once I wanted it.

I’m asking concerning the growth as a result of your group not solely received the championship, however you had been the Finals MVP! What are you able to inform us concerning the collection, your mindset, your teammates and the emotion of elevating that cup?

As I discussed earlier, that belief we had, was key to my growth, allowed me to develop and, after all, with their assist I received the MVP award. Because the MVP award is indirectly particular person, on the finish of the day, it’s simply results of nice teamwork. That’s why I have to say that I’m very grateful that I had an opportunity to play with such nice gamers and nice individuals, as a result of they made a switch to a brand new membership a lot, a lot simpler. So I need to thank all of them for that. The sensation whenever you raise the trophy is unmatched, with many emotions mixed. You are feeling each pleasure, delight, duty and gratitude.

What are your plans for the Summer time? Aside from the Olympics (fingers crossed), will you chill out, atone for some college stuff or work in your recreation?

My break day I’ll use to complete my college obligations. Then, I am going to U18 Serbian camp, as we have now European championships at first of the August.

A particular thanks to Goran Šanjević of BeoBasket for arranging the interview.