I was born in Montenegro and I was raised to respect all the people in the world.
People are really tall there and they love to win.
I guess that’s why good basketball is played in Montenegro.
Heroes are giants. Not (just) because they are tall. But because they do giant things. And because they lift people up.
Whom did you inspire, help or made happier today? did you get up? did you help someone get better or happier?
Send your story with pictures or video, this world needs more heroes.
I will be awarding the best hero stories from around the world.
I am proud I have won them but I keep trying as if I have to win them all over again.
A new start gives new inspiration. I have joined the Pelicans in Nola. My number is 3. As you see, there are no coincidences :) I will continue to work on myself to get better and better. Every day.
Medal of Saint Sava is the highest honor given by the Serbian orthodox church for charity and philanthropy. This is the most significant award that I have received in my life. It shines over all other medals. It also stands as a lighthouse reminding me that I am on the right path.
Now imagine you go to your first Olympics in Rio and your team wins a bronze medal. This was my ultimate dream on the bucketlist, and I am still crazy proud of this achievement.
All Rookie First team (2 times) winner kia eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December and March 2015
In the summer of 2014 I decided to make the biggest step in professional career. In the second draft for Chicago Bulls I got a number 44 and a place in the best basketball league in the world.
Champion with Real Madrid. Endesa Supercup
Champion with Real Madrid Kings Cup
MVP Kings Cup
Euroleague Rising Star - the prize for The best young player of the Euroleague
Champion with Real Madrid Supercup
2012-13 Champion with Real Madrid- Endesa Supercup
2012-13 Champions with Real Madrid- Liga Endesa
Chicago
As I got better with games and practice, my dreams also grew. So I got drafted to one of the historic NBA clubs - The Bulls. However I felt that wasn't the right time for me. I wanted to win more games, titles and have even more experience.
Euroleague Rising Star - Prize for The best young player
Gold Medal with Spain in the European Under-20
Member of the ideal quintet of the European U-20
MVP European U-20
MVP The month of December of the Euroleague
Bronze Medal with Spain in the European Under-20
Member Of the ideal quintet of the European U-20
MVP L'Hospitalet Junior Tournament
MVP Campus Basketball Without Borders
Champion Under-20 Circuit
MVP L'Hospitalet Junior Tournament
Real Madrid
With Real Madrid, we have won 5 titles, and I have gotten a flattering title of the Youngest Best MVP in History on Spain Basketball League. I have also started to play for the Spanish National Selection.
The hard work paid off again - Real Madrid called and I responded. This was the year my international career begun.
Real Madrid
With hard work and practice, I made it to the first 5. Also, I have grabbed that chance and scored 20 points! Our team won. I was beyond proud. After that, no resting on the laurels was allowed- I had to put in 150% of sweat and practice.
Podgorica
I have scored the first goal, and you would have expected that I have fallen for soccer… However, I got completely stuck on basketball! In that same year I have joined my first basketball club Džoker (Joker) in Podgorica as a 100% rookie.
My first training was in soccer. I was fascinated by the dynamics and what a dedicated team can do. At the time, basketball was nowhere in sight.
When I was born, I do not remember being this tall… I was just a regular baby. My first favourite place to play with the ball was at my grandparents’ house in Montenegro countryside. The unbelievable nature and freedom to move was the best time a kid like me could ever ask for.
I was born in Montenegro and I was raised to respect all the people in the world.
People are really tall there and they love to win.
I guess that’s why good basketball is played in Montenegro.
My first love was… you will never guess it - soccer!
I was really tall, which was cool, but so tall that I had to switch the ball!
The first basketball practice ended up in tears. I thought I was never gonna do this.
But that was all before I met my coach Jadran Vujacic in the basketball club Joker in Podgorica.
It took a lot of patience and endurance to learn this game. He literally changed the way we all saw basketball and showed us the magic of playing the hoops.
Then, when I was just starting to get good at it, my family moved to Spain.
It was hard being without my friends, my city and my hood, but Spain opened the world for me.
The most important words I have ever heard were from a fan who said -
Hero?
I was struck and humbled. What was I supposed to do?
How do you train to be a hero?
Being a hero is not a vocation.
That is something bigger... it’s a life’s mission.
So I remembered my childhood heroes -
they were great players and great inspirations to others.
Can I be like them?
I thought, to be able to continue to be someone’s hero, I have to improve myself.
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