Milenko Topić (Serbian Cyrillic: Миленко Топић; born 6 March 1969) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former player.

Milenko Topić
Topić with Crvena zvezda in December 2017.
Personal information
Born (1969-03-06) 6 March 1969 (age 55)
Pančevo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height2.04 m (6 ft 8+12 in)
Listed weight99 kg (218 lb)
Career information
NBA draft1991: undrafted
Playing career1988–2008
PositionPower forward
Number14, 15
Coaching career2015–present
Career history
As player:
1988–1991Sloga Banatsko Novo Selo
1991–1995Profikolor
1995–1997BFC Beočin
1997–1999Crvena zvezda
1999–2001Budućnost
2001–2002Montepaschi Siena
2002–2003Hemofarm
2003–2004Olimpia Milano
2004–2007Hemofarm
2007–2008Rethymno
As coach:
2015–2016SZTE-Szedeák (assistant)
2017–2020Crvena zvezda (assistant)
2018Crvena zvezda (interim)
2021–2022DEAC (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Team
FIBA World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1998 Greece Team
FIBA European Championship
Gold medal – first place 1997 Spain Team
Bronze medal – third place 1999 France Team

Playing career

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A power forward, Topić spent most of his professional career playing in the YUBA League, representing Profikolor, BFC Beočin, Crvena zvezda, Budućnost, and Hemofarm. In the later career, he also played in Italy for Montepaschi Siena and Olimpia Milano, as well as in Greece for Rethymno, until his retirement in 2008.[1]

National team career

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Topić was a member of the Yugoslavia national team (representing FR Yugoslavia) that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Over five tournament games, he averaged 2.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and one assist per game.[2] Topić won the gold medal at EuroBasket 1997 in Spain. Over nine tournament games, he averaged 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game while shooting 72.7% from the field.[3] He was a member of the Yugoslavia team that won the gold medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Athens, Greece. Over eight tournament games, he averaged 6.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.[4] Topić won the bronze medal at EuroBasket 1999 in France. Over nine tournament games, he averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.[5]

Coaching career

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Topić spent the 2015–16 season working as an assistant coach for the Hungarian team SZTE-Szedeák.

Crvena zvezda

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On 21 July 2017, Topić joined Crvena zvezda coaching staff after Serbian coach Dušan Alimpijević become their head coach for the 2017–18 season.[6] On 8 May 2018 he became an interim head coach for the Zvezda after Alimpijević was sacked.[7][8] On 10 May he made his debut in an 84–74 home win against Borac Čačak.[9] He finished his stint undefeated with a 10–0 record. In July 2018, Milan Tomić became the head coach for Crvena zvezda while Topić was moved back to the assistant coach role. In June 2020, Crvena zvezda parted ways with him.

Career achievements and awards

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As head coach
As assistant coach
As player
Individual

Personal life

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His son Nikola (born 2005 in Novi Sad) is a junior basketball player. In June 2020, Nikola signed a scholarship contract with the Crvena zvezda youth system.[10][11] His son made a debut for Crvena zvezda in March 2022, at age 16.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NOVI ZVEZDIN TRENER Ko je Milenko Topić, miljenik navijača i čovek koji je pobedio Olimpijakos u Beogradu". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. ^ "1996 Yugoslavia #15 - Milenko Topic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ^ "1997 Yugoslavia #15 - Milenko Topic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. ^ "1998 Yugoslavia #15 - Milenko Topic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  5. ^ "1999 Yugoslavia #15 - Milenko Topic". archive.fiba.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  6. ^ Dusan Alimpijevic is the new coach of Crvena Zvezda
  7. ^ "NOVI ZVEZDIN TRENER Ko je Milenko Topić, miljenik navijača i čovek koji je pobedio Olimpijakos u Beogradu". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  8. ^ "SMENA ALIMPIJEVIĆA Topić vodi Zvezdu do daljeg". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  9. ^ "TOPIĆ DEBITOVAO POBEDOM Zvezda nadigrala Borac za prvo mesto u Superligi!". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Porodična tradicija – Nikola Topić nova uzdanica Crvene zvezde". kkcrvenazvezda.rs. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Novi potpis u Zvezdi – ugovor za sina legende kluba". b92.net. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Zvezda dominantno čuva prvo mesto, debitovao sin legende". b92.net. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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