In Memoriam: Mirko Novosel (1938-2023)

One of the greatest names in the entire history of the regional basketball, legendary coach and a father of former ABA League j.t.d. director Krešimir Novosel, Mirko Novosel has passed away today at the age of 85.

As a player, he used to play for Lokomotiva Zagreb for 14 seasons, the club that later became known as Cibona. However, his moments of true glitter came later, when he decided to take over the Cibona team as head coach. Led by Mirko Novosel, Cibona has become one of the best clubs on the continent at that time, having won 2 European Champions Cup trophies, 2 FIBA Cup Winners’ Cup trophies, 2 Yugoslav National Championship trophies, and as many as 7 Yugoslav National Cup winner titles. 

Novosel has also proven himself on the international stage, having led Yugoslavia National team to two EuroBasket gold medals (1973 and 1975), a silver medal at the 1974 FIBA World Cup, and a silver (1976) and bronze medals (1984) at the Olympic Games. He also led the Croatia National team to the bronze medal at the 1994 EuroBasket tournament.

He has also been named the European Coach of the Year in 1985 and was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and FIBA Hall of Fame.

One thing is certain – his contribution to the glory of our regional basketball will never be forgotten.