We had the opportunity to watch Nikola Kusturica in the jersey of Serbia at the junior World Championship that ended four days ago. Better yet, we had the opportunity to watch his dominance. Just look at these numbers… In the group – 17 points to Australia and Ivory Coast (double-double), and 19 to Venezuela. Then, in the knockout stage – 27 points to New Zealand, 30 to Lithuania, and 25 to Turkey in the semifinals. Although the “eaglets” lost convincingly to America in the fight for gold, Kusturica then put the icing on the cake with the best individual performance of the tournament with 37 points and nine rebounds.
He absolutely showed why he carries the epithet of the greatest Serbian talent, and his rapid development was carefully monitored across the ocean. That is how a rich offer arrived which, let’s be realistic, no one would refuse. UCLA, the most decorated university basketball program in America, promised Nikola 12 million dollars for two seasons. Very soon after that news appeared – Kusturica emotionally said goodbye to Barcelona, the club where he spent the last three years.
“It is never easy to say goodbye, but today I want to thank all the people who were part of this incredible journey. Those were three unforgettable years, full of learning, growing up, and moments that I will always carry with me. I leave with a heart full of unforgettable memories. This was the first big step in my career, my first big club, and the first one that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to progress. Because of that, I will always be grateful.
Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, and all the people from the club. You helped me become not only a better player, but also a better person. Here I learned the value of hard work, discipline, dedication, and daily effort – lessons that I will carry with me forever.
Barça will always be my club and I will always support you, wherever I am. This club will forever occupy a very special place in my heart. I hope that our paths will cross again one day,” Kusturica wrote on Instagram.
The generational talent will continue to develop in America, after becoming the youngest player ever to wear the jersey of Barcelona’s A team in an official match – in the EuroLeague, ACB, and Catalan League. At the EuroBasket last year, he led Serbia to the throne as the MVP, and now he will cooperate with Mick Cronin, who has been leading the Bruins since 2019.
Americans write that his next destination is the famous college UCLA, which offers him a two-year contract under which he would earn as much as 12 million euros.
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Source: Euronews.rs; Photo: FIBA