Partizan Belgrade endured a heavy home loss to Paris Basketball, falling 83–101 in the sixth round of the EuroLeague – a result that left both fans and coach Zeljko Obradovic visibly frustrated.
The Serbian side entered the matchup shorthanded, missing key players Carlik Jones and Shake Milton. With no second point guard yet signed, Duane Washington was the team’s only true playmaker, forced to handle nearly all ball-handling duties.
After the game, Obradovic addressed reporters, acknowledging that the team’s lack of depth and mounting fatigue have taken their toll.
He also used the opportunity to comment on the grueling nature of the EuroLeague schedule, saying it can be even tougher than the NBA’s in certain respects.
“The players are exhausted; the EuroLeague is in many aspects tougher than the NBA,” Obradovic said.
“They have only that competition, while we have several different ones – EuroLeague, ABA League, Cup, Super League. They don’t have time to recover, leading to injuries. We need to discuss the calendar; I don’t know where it’s heading and how it will affect injuries.”
The veteran coach emphasized that the demanding schedule leaves little room for rest or preparation.
“We have a practice tomorrow that isn’t really a practice, and we have an opponent who will come fully prepared,” he continued.
“The difference in quality is not in question, but motivation … We are traveling to Sofia on Tuesday, playing against Barcelona on Friday … To be competitive, you need to have a roster. We are in trouble due to injuries and because we didn’t manage to sign players on time.”
Zeljko Obradovic:
“The players are exhausted, the EuroLeague is in many aspects tougher than the NBA.
They have only that competition, while we have several different ones…”https://t.co/FABxffToyq
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 24, 2025
