Tara Murray
Making an Olympic team would be the pinnacle for Wyndham basketball star Dejan Vasiljevic.
The star shooter is down to the final 17 players, who will attend a training camp in Melbourne the next couple of weeks before the final team of 12 is named.
“It would mean everything honestly,” Vasiljevic said in the lead up to the camp. “I’ve told a lot of people it doesn’t matter how much money I make from playing basketball, going to the Olympics and representing your country and it will override everything that I’ve done.”
Vasiljevic made his debut last season for the Boomers and helped the team qualify for the World Cup.
He wasn’t named in the final World Cup team and admitted he was disappointed at the time.
“I think just having a great season in the NBL,” he said was the reason for his call up this time round.
“I was with Sydney now with Adelaide so I kind of got to showcase who I really am as a player and I think all the coaches on the Boomers saw that and they thought it’d be great to bring me into the Boomers squad and see if I can fight for a final 12 spot.”
Vasiljevic has spent most of the NBL off season in Melbourne preparing himself for a possible Olympics spot.
He said it was the longest time he’s spent back in Melbourne for a number of years.
“There’s been a lot of training,” he said. “I hired a new gym strength and conditioning coach and I’ve been working with him for the last three months.
“I’ve had my basketball trainer with me. I’ve spent a lot of time with my family…. I’ve been flat out. There’s some days where my parents don’t see me just because I’m so flat out. But again, hopefully it’s all worth it at the end of the day.”
The time at home has also allowed him to spend a fair bit of time coaching at his academy, 3J Basketball Academy.
Vasiljevic has already done some workouts with some of the other guys still in the Boomers squad ahead of the camp.
He speaks about that connection of the group, which the Boomers have been well known for in the past.
“Now it’s just exciting to kind of get in, get to know everyone on a personal level not just on the court but off the court,” he said.
“Spend a bit of time and kind of just pick each others brains and just get to know each other really form that connection.”
Vasiljevic said having the chance to play for the Boomers in front of a big Melbourne crowd would be special.
The Boomers will play China as part of the camp.
Long term, Vasiljevic has signed on with the Adelaide 36ers.
He said he’s happy with the direction his career is taking and making the NBA now isn’t the be all.
“I’ve told myself If I get the chance again. I’ll go but it’s not my priority,” he said of the NBA.
“My priority is just to play my best years on a court, play some minutes and not sit at the end of an NBA bench.
“So honestly the money doesn’t matter, I’m in a really good situation in Adelaide. I love the city and I get to play for a good organisation. So I look forward to that.”
