KK Mega Basket

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Mega Mozzart
Mega Mozzart logo
LeaguesKLS
Adriatic League
FoundedDecember 23, 1998; 23 years ago (1998-12-23)
HistoryKK Avala Ada
1998–2005
KK Mega Basket
2005–present
ArenaRanko Žeravica Hall
Capacity5,000
LocationBelgrade, Serbia
Team colorsPink
 
PresidentVelimir Mihailović
General managerGoran Ćakić
Team managerMilenko Tepić
Head coachVlada Jovanović
Affiliation(s)OKK Beograd
(2018–present)
Championships1 National Cup
Websitebcmegabasket.net

Košarkaški klub Mega Basket (Serbian Cyrillic: Кошаркашки клуб Мега Баскет), commonly referred to as KK Mega Basket or as Mega Mozzart due to sponsorship reasons, is a Serbian men's professional basketball club based in Belgrade. The club is a founding member and shareholder of the Adriatic Basketball Association.[1]

In addition to Belgrade, the club also played its home games in Kruševac (2012–13 season), Smederevo (2013–14 season), and Sremska Mitrovica (2014–2019). The club participates in the KLS and the ABA League. Since 2004, it has been controlled by the Serbian sports agent Miško Ražnatović and his BeoBasket sports agency.

History[]

The Avala Ada era (1998–2004)[]

KK Avala Ada was established on 23 December 1998 by a group of basketball enthusiasts, all employed at the Avala Ada packaging factory. The club started out in the lower ranks, functioning as part of the Avala Ada sports society that was formed at the same time. In the summer of 1999, the club won the Belgrade Local League (summer league), thus qualifying for the Serbian Second League (4th-tier competition in the FR Yugoslavia basketball system). Playing the 1999–2000 season in the Second League, the club set an ambitious goal of gaining promotion on its first try and succeeded.

The 2000–01 season was played in the Serbian First League, finishing third and barely missing the promotion. The following the 2001–02 season, Avala Ada finished third again. In the 2002-03 season, the club again missed promotion based on the league standing but managed to qualify to federal First B League through playoffs in Novi Bečej, beating Vrbas and KK Zeta. Playing its first season, 2003–04, in the federal rank in the First B League (Serbian group), Avala Ada finished third thus missing promotion to the top league. Before the start of the 2004–05 season, the most significant development in the club's short history occurred - it was taken over by the BeoBasket Sports Agency led by Miško Ražnatović.

The Mega Basket era (2005–present)[]

At the end of the 2004–05 season, the club has qualified for the highest competition level in the country. In December 2005, the club changed its name to KK Mega Basket. At the same time, the club signed a sponsorship agreement with the Ishrana bakery company based in Smederevo, and in the period from 2005 to 2007, the club officially was named Mega Ishrana. Later, also due to sponsorship reasons, the club was called Mega Aqua Monta in the 2007–08 season, and Mega Hypo Leasing in the 2008–09 season.

In August 2009, before the start of the 2009–10 season, another Belgrade-based club KK Vizura merged into KK Mega Hypo Leasing, and the club was renamed KK Mega Vizura. In 2016, Mega Leks won its first trophy ever when it beat KK Partizan 86–80 in the Serbian Cup Final.[2] In 2017, the club changed its name to Mega Bemax due to sponsorship reasons.

On June 14, 2018, the club signed a contract on sports and technical cooperation with OKK Beograd.[3][4] Later that summer, on August 11, 2018, the club played a pre-season preparation game under NCAA basketball rules against the most recent NCAA Tournament Southern Regional semifinalist University of Kentucky men's basketball team at the Imperial Arena on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, losing heavily 100–64.[5] Some ten days later, on August 23, 2018, Mega played the University of Michigan men's basketball team, recent NCAA Tournament runner-up, this time under FIBA rules, in Sant Julià de Vilatorta, Spain and winning 81–73.[6]

As an organization focused primarily on showcasing its roster and providing a springboard platform for player transfers to bigger clubs in Europe and the NBA, in summer 2019, Mega continued the pre-season practice of travelling to the Bahamas to face off against top U.S. collegiate teams in preparatory games. This time, it was two games against the Texas Tech University basketball team, most recently the NCAA Tournament runner-up; Texas Tech won the first contest 94–92 on August 16, 2019 at Imperial Arena on Paradise Island while Mega won 73–76 four days later at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

On September 15, 2020, the club changed its name to Mega Soccerbet for the 2020–21 season due to sponsorship reasons.[7][8] On October 28, 2021, the club changed its name to Mega Mozzart for the 2021–22 season due to sponsorship reasons.[9]

Sponsorship naming[]

The club has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship:

  • Mega Ishrana (2005–2007)
  • Mega Aqua Monta (2007–2008)
  • Mega Hypo Leasing (2008–2009)
  • Mega Vizura (2009–2014)
  • Mega Leks (2014–2017)
  • Mega Bemax (2017–2020)
  • Mega Soccerbet (2020–2021)
  • Mega Mozzart (2021–present)

Home arenas[]

Main article: Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall
Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall

Mega Basket plays their ABA League domestic home games at the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall, located in the Belgrade municipality of New Belgrade. The arena, then named New Belgrade Sports Hall, was built in 1968. It has a seating capacity of 5,000. Mega Basket plays their BLS home matches at the Mega Factory.

The club has had several home arenas through the years in four cities:

Players[]

Main page: Category:KK Mega Basket players

Current roster[]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Mega Mozzart roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
C 2 Poland Balcerowski, Aleksander (L) 2.19 m (7 ft 2 in) 123 kg (271 lb) 21 – (2000-11-19)19 November 2000
G 44 Montenegro Bogavac, Luka (TW) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 18 – (2003-09-20)20 September 2003
SG 20 France Cazalon, Malcolm 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 20 – (2001-08-27)27 August 2001
G/F 13 Serbia Cerovina, Luka (C) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 99 kg (218 lb) 21 – (2000-04-08)8 April 2000
SF 6 Serbia 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 16 – (2005-07-30)30 July 2005
SG 21 Serbia Đurišić, Nikola 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 17 – (2004-02-23)23 February 2004
SG 5 Serbia Jović, Nikola 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 18 – (2003-06-09)9 June 2003
G 8 Serbia Kočović, Nikola 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 25 – (1996-04-17)17 April 1996
F/C 17 Croatia Matković, Karlo (L) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 20 – (2001-03-30)30 March 2001
PG 77 Serbia 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 17 – (2005-02-14)14 February 2005
F/C 33 Serbia Mušikić, Mihailo (TW) 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 19 – (2002-03-25)25 March 2002
PF 6 Croatia Rudan, Matej (L) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 20 – (2001-03-21)21 March 2001
SF 4 Russia Ruzhentsev, Samson 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 20 – (2001-10-23)23 October 2001
PF 22 Serbia Simanić, Boriša 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 99 kg (218 lb) 23 – (1998-03-21)21 March 1998
PG 11 United States Smith, Scoochie 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 27 – (1994-11-11)11 November 1994
PG 7 Serbia Uskoković, Aleksa 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 22 – (1999-08-30)30 August 1999
C 3 Serbia Vujić, Mladen 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 120 kg (265 lb) 23 – (1998-08-14)14 August 1998
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (L) On loan
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: January 9, 2022

Depth chart[]

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3 Inactive
C Karlo Matković Aleksander Balcerowski Mihailo Mušikić
PF Boriša Simanić Matej Rudan Mladen Vujić
SF Luka Cerovina Nikola Jović Samson Ruzhentsev
SG Malcolm Cazalon Nikola Đurišić Nikola Kočović
PG Scoochie Smith Aleksa Uskoković Luka Bogavac

Players at the NBA draft[]

See also: List of NBA drafted players from Serbia
* Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team
# Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular season or playoff game
Year Rnd. Pick Player Pos. Drafted by
2007 2 60 Serbia Milovan Raković# C Dallas Mavericks (traded to Chicago Bulls)
2014 2 41 Serbia Nikola Jokić* C Denver Nuggets
2014 2 52 Serbia Vasilije Micić# PG Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Oklahoma City Thunder)
2014 2 54 Serbia Nemanja Dangubić# SF Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Brooklyn Nets)
2016 1 24 France Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot G/F Philadelphia 76ers
2016 2 32 Croatia Ivica Zubac C Los Angeles Lakers
2016 2 35 Serbia Rade Zagorac# SF Boston Celtics (traded to Memphis Grizzlies)
2017 2 49 Slovenia Vlatko Čančar SF Denver Nuggets
2017 2 58 Serbia Ognjen Jaramaz# PG New York Knicks
2017 2 60 France Alpha Kaba# PF/C Atlanta Hawks
2019 1 18 Georgia (country) Goga Bitadze C Indiana Pacers
2020 2 44 Montenegro Marko Simonović C Chicago Bulls
2021 2 50 Serbia Filip Petrušev# PF/C Philadelphia 76ers

Coaches[]

Main pages: Category:KK Mega Basket coaches and Category:KK Avala Ada coaches
Avala Ada
Mega Basket

Season-by-season[]

Season Tier Division Pos. Postseason W–L National Cup Regional competitions European competitions
2006–07 1 BLS First League 3 SL 6th 16–20 Quarterfinalist — —
2007–08 1 BLS First League 5 — 12–10 — — —
2008–09 1 BLS First League 5 — 15–11 — Balkan League 3rd 6–6 —
2009–10 1 BLS First League 8 — 13–13 — — —
2010–11 1 BLS First League 4 SL 8th 18–22 Quarterfinalist — —
2011–12 1 BLS First League 4 SL 6th 22–18 Quarterfinalist — —
2012–13 1 BLS First League 2 Semifinalist 30–13 Semifinalist — —
2013–14 1 BLS Super League 3 Semifinalist 9–7 Runners-up ABA League 8 12–14 —
2014–15 1 BLS Super League 4 Semifinalist 7–9 Runners-up ABA League 10 11–15 —
2015–16 1 BLS Super League B2 Semifinalist 4–4 Winners ABA League 2nd 19–12 —
2016–17 1 BLS Super League 4 Semifinalist 9–7 Semifinalist ABA League 6 11–15 Champions League 7th 4–10
2017–18 1 BLS Super League A3 Quarterfinals 8–6 Semifinalist ABA 1st League 9 8–14 —
2018–19 1 BLS Super League B2 Semifinalist 7–5 Semifinalist ABA 1st League 5 10–12 —
2019–20 1 BLS Super League Abandoned Semifinalist ABA 1st League Abd 6–15 —
2020–21 1 BLS Super League NH Runners-up 5–3 Runners-up ABA 1st League 6 14–12 —

Trophies and awards[]

Trophies[]

Individual awards[]

Management and staff[]

Current officeholders are:

Current head coaches are:[10]

  • Senior team: Vlada Jovanović
  • U18 and U19 teams: Dragoljub Avramović
  • U16 team: Petar Radonjić

Notable players[]

See also: Category:KK Avala Ada players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club.
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time.
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Company registration info: ABA LIGA j.t.d." aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  2. ^ ISTORIJSKI KUP KORAĆA ZA MEGU! (in Serbian)
  3. ^ "Mega i OKK Beograd potpisali ugovor o saradnji". b92.net. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. ^ "POTPISANA SARADNJA Megini talenti u OKK Beogradu". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. ^ "UK Basketball hammers Mega Bemax". aseaofblue.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  6. ^ "UK Basketball hammers Mega Bemax". The Detroit News. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. ^ "PROMENILI IME! Košarkaški klub Mega Bemaks se od danas VIŠE NE ZOVE TAKO!". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Soccer novi glavni sponzor Mege". sportklub.rs. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  9. ^ "MEGA I MOZZART PONOVO ZAJEDNO!". bcmegabasket.net. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Juniori i kadeti KK Mega Soccerbet". bcmegabasket.net. Retrieved 17 September 2020.

External links[]

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