Serbia: The country of basketball

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse descriptive and causal factors of basketball development in Serbia, particularly following the country's independence (2006) to this day. The paper presents the development path of "the game under two elevated hoops", since its arrival to Belgrade in the 1920s, through the challenges and successes in various state communities, since the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (1918-1929), the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929-1945), the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1992), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992-2003), the State of Union of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006), to the Republic of Serbia. The paper shows the participation in the Yugoslav basketball, as well as the events that marked the period of full independence of the Republic of Serbia. The results of the national teams are shown, including the contribution of the national basketball organization .The analysis has included the condition of senior and age categories, coach and referee organizations. Serbian basketball has shown originality in creating Yugoslav basketball, with continuing to be successful also in the independent country, which gives credibility and justifies the marketing and promotional campaigns of the national basketball federation that Serbia is the country of basketball.