ŠTIMAC DOESN’T HOLD BACK: “Red Star and Partizan Are Run by Vučić’s Pawns – It’s Time to Clean Up Serbian Basketball!”

Former Serbia international and ex-Red Star center Vladimir Štimac has once again stirred controversy in Serbian basketball.

The celebrated 39-year-old star, who won European, World, and Olympic silver medals with the Serbian national team, shared with his followers on social media the full text of an interview he gave to a domestic newspaper that was never published.

“Seven days ago, a journalist from one newspaper contacted me with questions about Red Star. The cooperation was excellent, but it seems that someone did not like my answers. I do not want to name either the newspaper or the journalist in order to protect a man whom I believe had no bad intentions, so I am publishing the interview here in its entirety,” Štimac wrote.

Pre sedam dana pozvao me je novinar iz jednog lista sa pitanjima ne temu Crvene Zvezde. Saradnja je bila izuzetna ali izgleda da se nekome odgovori na pitanja nisu svideli. Ne želim da imenujem ni list ni novinara kako bih zaštitio novinara koji verujem nije imao nikakvu lošu…
— Vladimir Štimac (@stimac15) August 1, 2026

Štimac delivered exceptionally sharp criticism of the way Serbia’s two biggest clubs are being managed, emphasizing that an unhealthy atmosphere is being created in which the sport itself suffers:

“What saddens me as a basketball man for quite some time now is that, in both of our biggest clubs, too many things unrelated to basketball spill over into the sport. Both clubs are run by people who are pawns of Aleksandar Vučić, and as long as that does not change, I fear how much things can improve! When basketball is not the top priority, when decisions are not made in the best interest of the club and its results, then everyone ends up paying the price—the clubs, the players, the fans, and above all Serbian basketball. I would like us to reach a point as soon as possible where basketball is run by people whose main goal is to achieve results, develop players, and leave something behind. People who live for this sport, not for positions, personal promotion, or other interests. I believe that cleaning basketball of everyone who has stained it over the past few years is the only path we should take.”

On Vildoza’s Move to Partizan

The former Serbia international also commented on one of the biggest transfers of the summer—the move of Argentine guard Luka Vildoza to arch-rivals Partizan:

“Luka Vildoza is a good player, and there is no doubt that he will be a great addition for Partizan. But at the same time, I think the emotions of Red Star fans should also be understood. It wasn’t a case where people loved him only because of a few good games or his statistics—he became part of a story and an energy that the club represents for many fans. That is why this transfer leaves a bitter taste for many Red Star supporters. Not because a player professionally chooses his own path, but because the fans invested their emotions in him and accepted him as someone who understood what it means to wear that jersey. Vildoza also made some unusual statements over the past few years, and it will not be easy for him when he steps onto the court in front of fans who adored him until yesterday, because in the end they will deliver their final verdict.”

On Miloš Teodosić’s Role

A special part of the interview was dedicated to his longtime national team teammate and fellow member of the 1987 generation, Miloš Teodosić, who currently serves as the head of Red Star’s sports department:

“People like Miloš, who have gone through the EuroLeague, the national team, the biggest European games, and countless locker rooms, know how to recognize a player’s character and what is needed for a team to function at the highest level. But to be completely honest, bringing in a man like that makes little sense if sporting decisions are still going to be made outside the sports department! Big clubs cannot function when people with no basketball experience interfere daily in matters that should be left to the professionals. The fans want to see a clear system, not hear who announced what, who was the first to take a photo with a new signing, or who is trying to be more important than what happens on the court. If Miloš was brought in to lead the sporting policy, then he should be given the responsibility and his word should be respected. Otherwise, you risk creating a situation where the coach is responsible for the results, the sporting director is responsible for the roster, while the decisions are being made somewhere else entirely. I am saying this not because I doubt Miloš, but because I doubt the people who have no business being in Red Star’s management!” Štimac concluded.