Aleksandar Nikolić
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 28, 1924 Sarajevo, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Died | March 12, 2000 (aged 75) Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia |
| Nationality | Yugoslav |
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 1945–1951 |
| Position | Small forward |
| Coaching career | 1959–1985 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1945 | Yugoslav Army |
| 1946–1947 | Partizan |
| 1947–1949 | Crvena zvezda |
| 1949–1950 | Železničar Čačak |
| 1950–1951 | BSK Beograd |
| As coach: | |
| 1959–1961 | Partizan |
| 1962–1963 | OKK Beograd |
| 1965–1967 | Petrarca Padova |
| 1967–1968 | OKK Beograd |
| 1969–1973 | Varese |
| 1973–1974 | Crvena zvezda |
| 1974–1976 | Fortitudo Bologna |
| 1978–1980 | Borac Čačak |
| 1981–1982 | Virtus Bologna |
| 1982–1983 | Reyer Venezia |
| 1983–1984 | Victoria Libertas |
| 1984–1985 | Udinese |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
As player:
As coach:
|
|
| Basketball Hall of Fame as coach | |
| FIBA Hall of Fame as coach | |
As player:
As coach:
Aleksandar Nikolić (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар Николић; 28 October 1924 – 12 March 2000), also known by his nickname Aca (Serbian Cyrillic: Аца), was a renowned Yugoslav basketball player and coach. He is considered to be so instrumental and important to the game's development in the country, that he is often referred to as, The Father of Yugoslav Basketball.
Aleksandar Nikolić died on 12 March 2000, in Belgrade, He is buried in the Alley of the Greats, in Belgrade, Novo Groblje ("New Cemetery"). Hall Aleksandar Nikolić is named after him, in his honor.
Though his parents were from Brčko, Nikolić was born in Sarajevo, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes due to his mother visiting her sister and suddenly going into labour. Having a wealthy father Đorđe Nikolić, who had him when he was 62 years old, meant that young Aleksandar enjoyed a privileged upbringing. After spending the first few years of his life in Brčko, Nikolić, still an infant, got brought to the capital Belgrade where his parents moved to and where he ending up growing up.
He studied medicine and law at the University of Belgrade, graduating in 1946.
Nikolić was nicknamed, "The Professor", "Iron Sergeant", and, "The father of Yugoslav basketball". He was a professor at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Sport and Physical Education. The future coaches taught by Nikolić include Božidar Maljković, Dušan Ivković, Bogdan Tanjević, Želimir Obradović, etc.
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Wikipedia