Dusan Alimpijevic on Nikola Jokic: ‘He texted me after Besiktas games’
Besiktas’ season and his coaching approach
Besiktas have been flying this season — unbeaten in the Turkish Super League and sitting near the top of their EuroCup group. Head coach Dusan Alimpijevic has been a big part of that, building on the momentum he created at Bursaspor and bringing the same ideas and structure to Istanbul.
He credits a lot of the progress to having backroom support from club leadership. With management on the same page, he’s been able to assemble players, put a system in place and focus on creating a specific team character over multiple seasons. That long-term view, he says, matters more than quick fixes.
Alimpijevic also talks about his own work ethic — constantly learning, hunting for new ideas and staying passionate about coaching just as he was when he started. The results of those habits, and a track record of making smaller-budget teams competitive, are what he points to as the main changes over recent years.
He’s clearly grateful for the bond he’s developed with the fans. Walking around town or going to matches, he feels their support and hopes that one day his kids will be proud of what he helped build at the club.
Serbia, Nikola Jokic and what’s ahead
Alimpijevic recently added the Serbian national team job to his plate and has already guided the side to a couple of wins in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. He’s excited about the upcoming duel with Turkey and expects a fiery, top-level matchup.
When it comes to his star players, he says working with the likes of Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic is easier than people might expect. Elite players who have achieved so much tend to be straightforward to coach — they understand the mission and respond to clear leadership and knowledge.
On a personal note, Alimpijevic shared a few anecdotes about Jokic. He was surprised to learn that Jokic had been following some of the national team’s clinics and even sent a photo of himself watching one. Jokic has also reached out after Besiktas games — texting about specific moments and substitutions — which showed Alimpijevic that the superstar was really paying attention. There’s even talk of catching up properly in the summer.
All in all, Alimpijevic comes across as focused, grounded and excited by the challenges ahead — at club level and with Serbia — and happy to be part of a relationship between coach, players and fans that feels genuine.
