Obradović reportedly turned down Partizan's gift - and then beat them 72:55 in Belgrade

Obradović in Belgrade: applause for the coach, the gift stayed in the arena

Željko Obradović returned to the Belgrade Arena for the first time as the opposing coach since leaving Partizan last November - and left with a win. Panathinaikos won 72:55 in the fifth round of the EuroLeague and stayed unbeaten at 5-0, and Obradović keeps chasing after his record tenth European title. Partizan prepared a video and a picture inscribed "Forever" for him, but according to a Serbian sports outlet the legend refused to accept the gift. The stands put on a huge choreography and sang "Obradović Željko!", while at the same time some of the fans insulted the club president Ostoja Mijailović, whom they hold chiefly responsible for the coach's departure. Nigel Hayes-Davis, with 14 points off the bench, called the arena "the Madison Square Garden of the EuroLeague". When the legend turns down the gift and the stands split the club into coach and board, who actually lost the night in Belgrade?

Golden State don't know where Porziņģis is

Golden State, according to a US outlet, didn't know as of October 11 where Kristaps Porziņģis was, what health problem he is battling or when he'll be back on court. The Latvian centre missed around two weeks of preseason and didn't travel with the team to Hawaii, after general manager Mike Dunleavy said he was out indefinitely. After the 2024-25 season he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and the Warriors knew this when they offered him a 40-million-dollar two-year contract, of which 24 million is guaranteed. Over the last two seasons, playoffs included, he has played only 87 of a possible 177 games, and he last spoke to reporters on April 15. If Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are also missing at the start of the season, around 90 million dollars in salary will be sitting on the injured list. A club that knowingly signs a player with such a history and is then surprised when he's missing - whose bill is that, really?

Jokić picks his top four - LeBron isn't in it

Nikola Jokić named his four greatest in NBA history: Bill Russell for the championships, Michael Jordan because he changed the game, Wilt Chamberlain for the "crazy numbers" and Stephen Curry, the only one from his generation. "I played against him, he changed the game," the Denver centre explained. Left off the list were LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As his toughest opponents he named Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama. With three MVP awards, a championship ring and career averages of 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists over 810 games, the kid from Sombor is entitled to an opinion - and the GOAT debate has fresh fuel.

Kumanovo bring in a centre with ABA League experience

MKK Kumanovo have strengthened the paint with Serbian power forward-centre Stefan Fundić. Born in Belgrade, he is 32 years old and 200 centimetres tall, and last season he played for Borac Čačak. His career has taken him through Mega, Zadar, Igokea, Germany's Giessen and Mladost Zemun; with Igokea he was champion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with Zadar he won the Croatian Cup. The club has parted ways with American Jordan Session, who didn't live up to expectations, so the centre position will now be shared by Fundić and Bojan Krstevski. An American leaves, an experienced regional player arrives - is this a plan, or patching on the move?

Tikveš with a guard from the other side of the world

Tikveš from Kavadarci have announced guard Brooklyn Bruton, a 22-year-old Australian who comes from the Ballarat Miners in Australia's NBL1. Bruton has been in Kavadarci for more than a month, training with his new teammates and getting used to the coaching staff's demands, and his debut is expected soon. The goal is clear: better performances in the rest of the Super League season. It remains to be seen whether the road from Australia to Kavadarci pays off on the court.