Episode 134: Aleksandar Džikić, Economy of Coaching

Guest: Aleksandar Džikić, Serbian Professional Basketball Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Serbian professional basketball coach Aleksandar Džikić joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss the economy of coaching and other basketball philosophies. His last team as head coach was Movistar Estudiantes of the Liga ACB. He has also been head coach of three different EuroLeague teams, Union Olimpija, Lietuvos Rytas, and Budućnost.

Starting in 2005, Džikić was an assistant coach position for the Minnesota Timberwolves under head coach Dwane Casey for three seasons. He was the very first NBA assistant coach with no prior coaching experience in the United States at either the collegiate or professional level. Additionally, he became just the second European native to be hired as an NBA assistant coach, after Igor Kokoškov who got on the Los Angeles Clippers coaching staff in an assistant role in 2000.

One of his most significant career stops was as an assistant coach from 1999–2005 with Partizan under head coaches Nenad Trajković, Darko Russo, and Duško Vujošević. At the national level, Džikić has been head coach of FR Yugoslavia under-16 assistant, the Serbia under-20 head coach, and the Macedonia national basketball team. Some of his career highlights and awards are FIBA EuroChallenge winner (2011), ABA League champion (2018), 4× Slovenian League champion (2008, 2010, 2011, 2014), 3× Slovenian Cup winner (2008, 2014, 2015), Montenegrin Cup winner (2018), and 3× Slovenian Supercup winner (2008, 2010, 2014).

Breakdown

1:00 - Disconnect between Broadcaster, Fans, and Coaches

3:00 - Be a Better Coach

6:00 - Economy of Coaching

10:00 - Youth Level Focus

14:00 - Player Development Aspect

17:00 - All About Dribbling

21:00 - Dribble Line

25:00 - Pointless Play

27:00 - Running Jump in the Half Court

30:00 - Top Three Things on his Defensive System

32:00 - Value on Offense