Euroleague Basketball documentary: “Obradovic, The Return”

“Obradovic, The Return” is the latest documentary production from Euroleague Basketball Originals, though it could just as easily be called “Obradovic and Partizan, Love Story”.

The 28-minute feature dives deep into the career of the EuroLeague’s winningest coach and explores his special relationship with Partizan NIS Belgrade, where he finished his career as a player, started coaching, and won the first of his record nine EuroLeague crowns. By the end, the news that caught Europe by storm last summer, that Obradovic was coming home to coach Partizan in the 7DAYS EuroCup, is not just easily understood, but appears to be the next logical step in his storybook career.

Viewers will hear from players Obradovic has coached currently and in the past, from members of Partizan’s front office and coaching staff, from the Serbian media, and others to understand how revered Obradovic is in the basketball world as a whole and in his native Serbia in particular. And, of course, the legend himself, who explains how he became Partizan’s head coach at age 31.

“I was in preparation time with the Yugoslavia national team. I was the captain of the team that would play the European Championship in Rome, with a lot of possibilities to win the championship and take the gold medal. From the club, they found me, called me and offered me to be a coach,” Obradovic said. “I decided that night, and I went to the airport to talk to the national team coach, Mr. Ivkovic. Everybody believed that I was crazy. I remember how my teammates joked.”

In short time nobody was laughing and after three decades and a list of accolades too long to list, Obradovic is back home with Partizan looking to revive his beloved club after a rough period and carry it back to its former home as one of the kingpins of European basketball.

“If you sign Zeljko Obradovic, you cannot say you will build the team for the next five years, and after three seasons, you will start winning something,” Partizan general manager and a former Obradovic teammate, Zoran Savic, said. “He came here to win immediately and from the very first minute, when he signed, he gave the message to everybody.”

Filmmakers followed Obradovic through the preseason and the first EuroCup game of the season to see him working with his players and understand the relationship between the coach and the Partizan faithful.

“We are very proud of the fans that we have,” Coach Obradovic said. “I try to explain people that to understand Partizan, you need to come to a game… All these years, I was in connection with the people from Partizan. It is my club, without any question.”

“Obradovic, The Return” joins a long list of premium, long-form content from the Euroleague Basketball Originals platform. Among the other features can be found “You Make Me Proud: A champions’s road to glory”, “Milan’s ‘The New Old Boys”, and “Calling the Shots: The Anne Panther Story”.