Košarkaški Klub Partizan (Partizan Basketball Club) is a part of the Belgrade-based sports association Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and Eurocup.
KK Partizan has earned extraordinary reputation in the world basketball cirlces through its accomplishments and the cultural dynamic between Grobari and their beloved club. KK Partizan has become an inspiration for the entire country and an example for other Partizan clubs to emulating. It is the most successful basketball club in the region and has won as many as 45 trophies they include:
On 5 March 2009 against Greek and European powerhouse Panathinaikos, Grobari set record for Euro League crowd attendance: of 22,567. KK Partizan plays most of its games in a 7000 seat Pionir Hall which has been hailed as a "Basketball-Cathedral" and a "holly experience" by numerous foreign fans and basketball journalists. Here's few of many reports describing atmosphere that has become key component of KK Partizan's equation to success:
What is remarkable is public acknowledgment of respect and admiration for KK Partizan as an institution by some of its opponents and one-time fierce basketball and political rivals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX3jEk-RJrs (to be translated in English for wider audience). It is said that KK Partizan is one of few professional basketball clubs that are designed to function as a family unit with three members: players, staff and Grobari vice others' system that function as a corporation and its 3 components: investors (capital/ownership), staff/product (players) and buyers (fans purchasing the product). This philosophy differentiates KK Partizan and Grobari relationship from a typical modern professional team clubs. The KK Partizan - Grobari relationship is a unique culture and anything but a by-product of a sport entertainment industry.
Despite the crippling 1990's and minuscule budget, KK Partizan remains to be the most productive European Basketbal club to this day. It has produced and has the most amount of players drafted by the National Basketball Association (NBA) out of all European clubs. KK Partizan has become a trademark of the country which has won multiple European and World basketball championships. It has earned the respect for its consistency in participating at the European competitions but also for its fighting spirit even when the odds seem insurmountable. At times, when financial situation is so bad in the club that the heat in the locker rooms can not be afforded as well the charter AIR travel (opting for cheaper exhausting Bus routine), KK Partizan is still beating over and over European giants. The culture of determination and devotion within KK Partizan was developed in the early 1970s by the legendary FIBA Hall-of-Famer Dražen Dalipagić and the same system of "David vs Goliath / Us verses the world (Us being Partizan & Serbia and not the players)" system is the biggest catalyst in the current post Balkan war success era. Now what makes all the success that much more impressive is that the club regularly goes through the "re-building" phase, due to its inability to compete with the European salary marker.
The incredible system aimed at strengthening psychological intangibles and maturity of the players (as many are in teens and early 20s) and atypically daily practices was nurtured by the legendary head coach Duško Vujošević (Partizan coaching staff 85-89, 90-91, 01-12 and 2012-15) and current president/former KK Partizan and one of the greatest European players of all time: Predrag Danilović. Over the past decade couch Dusko Vujosevic has become synonymous with the KK Partizan institution. His authority, influence and ability is one of the biggest reasons why KK Partizan is able to consistently expedite the development of its prospects but also to drain so much out of the players even more so then the potential forecast. It is a perfect synergy of small parts that keeps creating powerful team of believers year after year. (Vujosevic's system has earned him Euro Coach of the year) http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/54740/alexander-gomelskiy-coach-of-the-year-dusko-vujosevic
The following interview with Vujosevic (coach) and Danilovic (President) depicts their KK Partizan system's philosophy: translated:
Vujosevic:"I am convinced that if things operate the way we worked many things in Serbia can be on the European standard. There's the following criteria: It is OK to make a mistake assessing what type of player one is even in the worse case, it is easier (acceptable) to misjudge how the player will be, one's potential...but there can not be mistakes on what type of person a player is"
Danilovic:"Having an amazing player and a poor person that will eat up the rest of the squad like cancer...you don't need player like that."
Vujosevic: "Simply, there have to be people that are ready to, not to accept, but to correct someone else's mistake. Even when one makes a mistake with a shot selection out of selfishness and egoism, other players shouldn't be criticizing that - they ought to sprint back, to hastle and to jump after that ball as if they made that mistake...that's when the "machine is turned-on"
KK Partizan has gone through difficult financial times in recent years despite its success. There are several factors that are the cause of it; but the main issue is club's lack of revenues - to offset the budget needed to compete at an elite level year-after-year. (mostly contributed to dis-proportionally smaller domestic economy and hence disposable income available to match higher ticker prices) In 2009-12 the club was hampered by the accumulated salary debts as well as Pionir Hall (owned by the city) lease debt that was accumulated over the years. If it hadn't had a huge cultural influence on the society as a whole and more importantly if it didn't have loyalty of Grobari the club who seize to exist . In 2011 Grobari fundraised and made a huge financially support with the monies collect.(Money fundraised by Grobari was eventually paid back to Grobari in full by the club). Similar financial issues came up in 2013-2014 (frozen club's bank account) for late tax payments amplifying inability to bolster its immediate player talent. The Club has experienced similar dilemma as Partizan Football club, inability to financially compete for player salaries in an open Euro market. KK Partizan is producing remarkable young products only to be sold to European Big budget clubs or to be drafted by the NBA. However, based on the consistency and the results, KK Partizan has managed to overcome financial hardships a lot better, largely thanks to Vujosevic's regime and Grobari's inspiration.
To offset departure of young talents and to remain competitive, KK Partizan has brought in foreign players that could fit its budget. (typically very young - underdeveloped potential ). Most of these players have gone on the public record by candidly praising and admiring the Grobari. See the story of Leo Westermann (KK Partizan 2012-14) with the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsMfHbBC-nc (in French and Serbian - to be translated to English for wider audience
Leo Westermann came to KK PArtizan as a 19 year old French prodigy playmaker. He chose to come to KK Partizan to fulfill his dream and is currently playing for Barcelona (biggest giant and budget in Europe). Leo briefly mentions in the clip above how knew of the Grobari atmosphere before joining KK Partizan. He also underlines how the adrenalin and love from the Grobari inspired and pushed him to reach physical and mental limits he didn't believe he had. Leo also at one point states, in his youthful enthusiasm, how the energy drove him to be ready to "die on the court for Grobari"