The 2023–24 KK Crvena zvezda season is the 79th season in the existence of the club. For the season it is referred to as KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet for sponsorship reasons.
Overview
Pre-season
On 23 June 2023, former Serbian international guard Stefan Marković announced his retirement. During his career he won silver medals with Serbia from the Summer Olympics, World Cup and EuroBasket. He spent last two seasons of his career with the Crvena zvezda winning Adriatic league, two Serbian leagues and two Serbian cups.[1]
On 26 June 2023, Argentine international guard Luca Vildoza left the club after spending one season with it and winning EuroLeague MVP of the Month for the month December, Serbian league and Serbian cup. He is the first Argentine to play for the club. Vildoza joined the Greek side Panathinaikos for a three-year contract.[2]
On 1 July it was announced that Serbian power forward Luka Mitrović signed a new two-year contract with the club, with an option for third-year extension.[7]
On 3 July, after his one-year contract expired, Ghanaian power forward Ben Bentil also left the club. Later on, at the start of August, he joined Japanese side Gunma Crane Thunders.[8]
On 8 July Montenegrin international center Marko Simonović joined the club on a two-year deal. Previous two years he played for NBA team Chicago Bulls and their affiliate Windy City Bulls.[9]
On 11 July Serbian international guard Miloš Teodosić joined the club on a one-year deal after his contract with Virtus Bologna expired. Teodosić is former EuroLeague and EuroCup champion, and winner of over 20 individual awards during his career including EuroLeague MVP, three times EuroLeague First Team, Serbian Player of the Year and EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team. He also won three silver medals with Serbia from the Summer Olympics, World Cup and EuroBasket and was captain of the national squad for fifteen years.[10]
On 12 July Hungarian international winger Ádám Hanga joined the club on a two-year deal. He arrived from Spanish side Real Madrid with whom he won last season's Euroleague. He was also EuroLeague Best Defender in 2017 and represented Hungary on two EuroBaskets.[11]
On 13 July Serbian forward Ognjen Dobrić left the club as a free agent and joined Italian side Virtus Bologna. He is the product of the club's youth academy and was part of the first squad for the last 7 seasons during which he won 15 trophies, multiple individual awards including being named Adriatic League Finals MVP in 2022 and became the twelfth best scorer in the club's history and the best scorer for the club in both European competitions and Adriatic league.[12]
Another player left the club on the same day. Argentine guard Facundo Campazzo left the club as a free agent after spending with them second half of the last season in which he won Serbian League and Serbian cup.[13]
On 14 July two new players joined the club. US-born Slovenian international center Mike Tobey joined the club from Spanis side Barcelona on a one-year contract.[14] Second addition was Ukrainian-born Russian international bigman Joel Bolomboy who joined a club on a one-year contract from Greek side Olympiacos.[15]
On 15 July Lithuanian forward Rokas Giedraitis joined the club from the Spanish side Baskonia. He signed a one-year contract with the club.[16]
On 18 July club announced that Serbian forward Stefan Lazarević signed a new three-year contract with the club.[21]
On 27 July club announced that Serbian center and former NBA champion Ognjen Kuzmić signed a new two-year contract with the club.[22]
On 28 July club announced that Serbian swingman and club's captain Branko Lazić extended his contract for one additional season. This will be his 13th season straight with the club.[23]
On 29 July Montenegrin guard Nikola Ivanović left the club after two seasons in which he won Adriatic league, two Serbian leagues and Serbian cup. He joined Russian side Runa Basket Moscow.[24]
On 7 August, Serbian point guard Nikola Topić, who previously signed a four-year contract with the club, left on a season-long loan to Mega MIS.[25]
On 3 September club announced that they mutually terminated contract with Serbian veteran center Miroslav Raduljica. He left the club after one season and joined Greek side Maroussi.[27]
On 12 September Serbian veteran forward Nemanja Bjelica joined the club on a one-year contract. Bjelica, who is former Euroleague MVP and NBA Champion as well as silver medalist from FIBA World Cup and Eurobasket, arrived from the Turkish side Fenerbahçe. This will be his second spell at the Crvena zvezda, for whom he previously played between 2008 and 2010.[28]
October
During the month club started this season run in Adriatic league with four wins and a defeat against their arch-rivals Partizan. This secured them the third place at the end of the month with 4–1 record.
In Euroleague club played five games. They started with win against ASVEL followed by four straight defeats including the one in Crvena Zvezda–Partizan basketball rivalry. This brought them to the 15th place in the league at the end of the month with a 1–4 record.
On 21 October club announced that they have parted ways with Montenegrin head coach Duško Ivanović after slow Euroleague start of one win and four defeats. He was the head coach of the club since November 2022, and during his tenure club won Serbian League and Serbian Cup titles.[29] On the next day, the club hired Greek coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos as their new head coach.[30]
November
In Adriatic league club won all four games they played during the November witch secured them first place at the end of the month with 8–1 record.
In Euroleague club played five games. They had a score of two wins and three defeats. This brought them to the 16th place in the league at the end of the month with a 3–7 record.
December
In Adriatic League club played 4 games during this month, winning all four of them. This secured them top of the table with the score of 13–1.
In EuroLeague club played 7 games, winning 3 and losing 4. This put them on the 15th position in the league with the score of 6–11.
On 18 December Crvena zvezda signed American center Freddie Gillespie who previously played for German side Bayern Munich. Gillespie signed contract with the club until the end of the season.[31]
On 20 December American guard Shabazz Napier and club agreed on mutual termination of the contract after only six months in order to join his former club Olimpia Milano.[32]
On 25 December Serbian former international center and NBA Champion Ognjen Kuzmić left the club after more than three years. This was his second spell at the club, with whom he won 11 titles. He joined FMP until the end of current season.[33]
On 26 December Serbian guard Nikola Topić returned to the club after the six months loan at the Mega MIS.[34]
January
In Adriatic League club played 4 games during this month, losing first game against Cedevita Olimpija and winning remaining three games including Eternal derby win against their arch rivals Partizan. This, again, secured them top of the table with the score of 16–2.
In EuroLeague club played 7 games, winning 4 and losing 3. This put them on the 12th position in the league with the score of 10–14.
On 3 January Montenegrin international center Marko Simonović left the club in order to join Turkish side Beşiktaş on a loan until the end of the season.[35]
On 14 January club signed American combo guardJavonte Smart on a contract until the end of the season, with an option for a year long extension. First part of the season Smart spent in NBA G League with Delaware Blue Coats. This will be his first time playing outside of US.[36]
On 23 January draw was held for this season's Radivoj Korać Cup. Crvena zvezda was drawn in quarter-finals against FMP.[37]
On 30 January club announced that they signed contract extension with their Russian center Joel Bolomboy. New two years extension will keep him at the club until the summer of 2026. Bolomboy arrived at the club at the start of this season from Greek side Olympiacos.[38]
February
In Adriatic League club played 2 games during this month, losing one and winning one. This secured them top of the table with the score of 17–3.
In EuroLeague club also played 2 games, losing both of them. This put them on the 16th position in the league with the score of 10–16.
This seasons Radivoj Korać Cup was played between 14 and 17 February. Crvena zvezda successfully defended their title after wins against FMP in quarterfinal, Čačak 94 Quantox in semifinal and Partizan Mozzart Bet in final. This was their 13th national cup title in history and 4th in a row.[39]
On 7 February club signed American forward Trey Thompkins for the rest of the season. His last club was Zenit Saint Petersburg and was out of the contract since summer of 2023.[40]
March
In Adriatic League, club played 4 games, losing one and winning three. Club suffered an unexpected loss to Mega MIS 83-89 at home. Crvena zvezda remained first in the table with the 20-4 record.
In Euroleague, club played 6 games, losing five and winning only one. They remained on 16th position with the 11-21 record.
April
In Adriatic League, club played 2 games in regular season, winning both of them and finishing regular season with the 22-4 record. In Playoffs, club faced SC Derby, winnig both games and progessing to the semifinals.
In Euroleague, club played 2 games and lost both of them. They suffered their biggest loss in Euroleague ever by losing to Anadolu Efes 100-55 in Istanbul. They finished season on 16th position with 11-23 record.
May
In Adriatic League, club played 5 games, winnig all of them. They won both games in semifinals against Mega MIS and progressed to the finals where they played against Partizan Mozzart Bet. They won the series convincingly 3-0, thus sweeping the arch rival.
In Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), club played 2 games in semifinals against FMP Meridian and won both games and reached the final where they played again against Partizan Mozzart Bet.
June
In Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), club played 2 games and won both of them in the finals against Partizan Mozzart Bet and won their 9th title of Serbian League.
Players
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Crvena zvezda is scheduled to play nine pre-season games. The first three games will be played in Serbia. Then, they will participated at three tournaments - in Cagliari, Italy, from 9 to 10 September 2023, Munich, Germany, from 16 to 17 September 2023 and Nicosia, Cyprus, from 22 to 23 September 2023.[44]
Crvena zvezda had canceled their participation at the Supercup, due to their previously scheduled pre-season tournaments, which are held in the same period.[45]
The 2024 Radivoj Korać Cup was the 22th season of the Serbian men's national basketball cup tournament. Crvena zvezda successfully defended their title beating Partizan in the finals, winning their 10th title and 4th one in a row.
