Sasa Obradovic dissects Mike James’ character, confesses affinity for Jordan Loyd

Sasa Obradovic broke down how he’s managed to get the best version of Mike James at Monaco and why Jordan Loyd has become one of his favorite players. The Serbian expert also named the player from Zvezda he’d like to sign and reflected on the transient nature of his profession.

Sasa Obradovic has been coaching AS Monaco for three years. The 55-year-old Belgrade native has worked as a coach for 20 years continuously, but he’s still looking forward to the game that’s ahead of him with the same passion as when he started out in Cologne.

“The golden rule has always been to stay in the EuroLeague for at least three years. And you will create an image. I am honored to be a representative of the country with the greatest coaching minds,” Obradovic told Meridian Sport’s Blazo Komnenic, and admitted that it’s hard for him to believe this is going to be his sixth season with the team overall. 

“There is no need to deal with the topic of whether you are replaceable. We are all consumable goods,” he reflected.

“I sat at dinner with the owner, where he told me, ‘We will be together for years.’ So there is trust in my work, but very soon everything can change. I don’t deal with nice or bad comments. Just with how to be better tomorrow,” he explained. 

In 20 years of his career, the Serbian expert has won 10 trophies. Still, the one trophy that keeps escaping him is the EuroLeague crown, for which he has no obsession at all.

“A lot of things have to come together. You shouldn’t see your career as a failure if it doesn’t happen. If it happens, it is the product of a million factors. I will strive for it, but I will not be dissatisfied if I do not win the EuroLeague,” he clarified.

“I don’t want to carry that burden and be driven by passion only for it, I want to enjoy the process. If I lose that, I will definitely not be doing this job anymore,” he added.

Up next for Monaco is the duel with Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday evening. Monaco want to rack up their sixth win of the season, while the Serbian outfit wants its fifth. Obradovic admitted that those games are special for him.

“I don’t need to hide. Emotion is always there. But, in order for me to continue to be a Serbian coach in the EuroLeague, I have to beat every team, including Red Star,” he pointed out, and further predicted that Zvezda will add more players to their roster to get to the playoffs.

“After [Joel] Bolomboy’s injury, they immediately reacted by bringing in [Filip] Petrusev, and I believe they will not stop there,” he said.

“Their roster is very deep. I see that some players who were playing in the past, now aren’t. They will probably have another role over time,” he commented.

Obradovic praised Giannis Sfairopoulos’ work at Zvezda, arguing that “the Serbian and the Greek mentality are similar.”

“That’s why I don’t think his adjustment was a problem. Giannis is an excellent coach at the highest level and it is good that he was given full responsibility and the opportunity to bring the players he really liked.

He showed in the previous season, primarily in the ABA league, that he did a good job, especially since he did not select the team. Now the demands are higher, but the EuroLeague is much more balanced and there will be a fight until the last round,” he said. 

Obradovic singled out Nikola Kalinic as the Zvezda player he would like to have signed. He also revealed that he approached the veteran forward before he signed with Barcelona in 2022.

“I wanted him on my team. I have a lot of respect for him as a player. He makes a difference and Zvezda certainly need him. He can cover multiple positions, which is always good to have. Nikola has the character of a winner. He can transfer that to the team,” Obradovic argued. 

Monaco’s entry into the new season was not easy. Nick Calathes was injured, so Obradovic had to go into the fire without his starting point guard. After eight rounds in the French championship, Monaco are 6-2, while in the Euroleague they stand at 5-3.

“I can accept the defeat against Barcelona, ​​even in Kaunas, where it is never easy,” he took stock of the season so far.

“Losing against Paris at home bothers me. We have to correct that result in some away game,” he emphasized.

“A great victory in Efes, but we should not waste words on the beginning of the season, because there is still much to play. I think we will grow, especially when Calathes comes back. Then we will have more chances to reach our goals”.

Much has been said of Obradovic’s relationship with star guard Mike James. Even though the two have gone through some tumultuous times together, they both remain on the same team for the fourth season in a row.

“Our relationship has evolved and is now on an even greater level,” Obradovic said.

“Whatever problematic thoughts or behavior he may have had at some point, he is a good character and no one can convince me otherwise,” he added, and expanded on how he’s managed to keep the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring king in line with the rest of the team.

“You need to have special patience and strategy to work with him. It will make your job easier. Abnormal discipline can get you into trouble. I try to balance.

He was given the role of the captain, so the burden is greater. Now, he has to lead the team towards other goals. After claiming individual awards, it’s time to achieve great team success. That’s for sure. A lot of great coaches couldn’t find a way with Mike, so I’m proud of my relationship with him.”

Obradovic also stressed that there’s no model or formula to get the best out of a player as talented and unique as James.

“You have to let him run wild, to allow him some behavior on the field that is not acceptable for coaches, teammates and even the crowd. But that’s the only way Mike James can be Mike James. That’s when you know he’ll pay you back,” he opined, obviously drawing from his own personal experience.

If James is quite temperamental in his reactions, then Jordan Loyd is the one who always puts a smile on his face. The Serbian expert is very happy to have him on the team again.

“At the very beginning, it was not easy for the other players to accept him, knowing that I like him as a person and a player. He is a character who knows how to behave and does everything to make the team better.

Jordan is a basketball player who is a guarantee that you can achieve big goals. You need to be smart in the sense of how not to burden him too much, in order to get his full potential”, concluded Obradovic.