Celebrating the legends who shaped ABA League history

In the story of the ABA League’s 25-year history, a special chapter belongs to those who, through their performances on the court and sporting achievements, left an indelible mark and helped define a quarter-century of regional basketball.

A total of 2,352 players have competed in the ABA League over the past 25 years, but one of them went on to reach extraordinary heights and become the best basketball player of his generation. That player is Nikola Jokić. After spending two seasons with Mega and earning both the ABA League MVP and Top Prospect awards, Jokić moved to the NBA in 2015, where he continues to push the boundaries of the game and rewrite the record books. For everything he has achieved, he was deservedly presented with the most prestigious recognition of the evening - the ABA LEAGUE ICON award.

“I would like to thank everyone for this recognition. It means a lot to me, considering that I grew up with this League, played in this League and followed it when I was a kid. A great number of quality players have played in the ABA League over the years, and some of them are still playing today, so receiving this recognition means a lot. I think awards like this will carry even greater significance once I finish my career and look back on everything I have achieved, but it is certainly a great honour. Thank you very much,” said in a video message Nikola Jokić.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Nemanja Gordić and Branko Lazić. Gordić received the recognition as the ABA League’s all-time leading scorer with 3,404 points. He is also the competition’s all-time assists leader with 1,224 assists and holds the highest total performance index rating with 3,272. Lazić, meanwhile, was honoured as the most decorated player in ABA League history with seven championship titles, while he also holds the record for the most games played with 426 appearances.

Awards for the Most Decorated Coaches were presented to Dejan Radonjić and, posthumously, Duško Vujošević, with the latter’s award accepted by his son Luka. Both coaches have won the ABA League championship five times.

Throughout ABA League history, 10 different clubs have managed to lift the championship trophy, with Partizan Mozzart Bet standing above the rest as the competition’s most successful club with eight titles. The award for the Most Decorated Club in the first 25 years of the competition was accepted by Mlađan Šilobad, who, as a club executive, was part of all eight of Partizan’s championship-winning campaigns.

The only player to have won the prestigious ABA League MVP award three times is Dejan Milojević. He was named ABA League MVP in 2004, 2005 and 2006, while he also holds the record for the highest performance index rating in a single ABA League game with 59. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Milojević was posthumously presented with the MR. MVP award, which was accepted by his son Nikola.

The MR. TRIPLE-DOUBLE award deservedly went to Luka Božić, the only player in ABA League history to record two triple-doubles.

Meanwhile, Dušan Kecman received the MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT award for arguably the most spectacular basket in ABA League history. In the 2010 Final Four championship game in Zagreb between Cibona and Partizan, Kecman produced an unforgettable moment when, with just 0.6 seconds remaining, he sank an incredible shot from almost the entire length of the court.