MEGA 25!

On this day, exactly 25 years ago, basktetball club Mega MIS was founded!

On December 23, 1998, the basketball section of the cardboard packaging factory was founded under the name Avala Ada. In the meantime, Mega grew first within the framework of Serbian basketball, and then European and world basketball. In addition to its successful work with young players, Mega became world-famous as the only team outside the USA that had three players selected in the same NBA draft on three occasions and a record 15 drafted players, including two-time MVP and current champion of NBA League Nikola Jokic, as well as the MVP of the Euroleague and two-time champion of the strongest European competition, Vasilije Micic. Also, a large number of Serbia’s NT players and other national teams players played for Mega, and it should be noted that the Serbian national team that won the silver medal at the World Championship this year included three former players of Mega.

Mega can also be proud of the fact that eight former club players are currently playing in the NBA league, namely Nikola Jokic and Vlatko Cancar (Denver Nuggets), Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat), Vasilije Micic (Oklahoma City Thunder), Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers), Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic), Boban Marjanovic (Houston Rockets) and Malcolm Cazalon (Detroit Pistons), as well as its former coach Dejan Milojevic is on the bench of the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach.

Starting from the non-league, the club gradually progressed in the ranks of the competition, reaching the First League in 2005, and 8 years later, at the end of the 2012/13 season, Mega secured placement in the ABA League under the leadership of coach Dejan Milojevic. After two cup finals in 2014 and 2015, Mega achieved the greatest success in the club’s history by winning the Radivoj Korac Cup in 2016, and as a confirmation of the historic season, reached the finals of the ABA league playoffs. Already in the following season, Mega was a participant in the premier season of the FIBA Champions League. In the meantime, Mega also made two more placements in the finals of the Radivoj Korac Cup, in order to reach the finals of the Serbian Superliga for the first time in 2021, and in the last season they reached the playoffs of the ABA League. The youth selections of Mega accompanied the growth of the club with titles in all age categories, and the greatest success was achieved in 2022, when the juniors of Mega MIS became champions of the Junior Euroleague.

What should be emphasized is that Velimir Mihailovic has been with Mega since its foundation, who went from the sports director to the president of Mega MIS, a role he still performs today.

Extremely successful and world-renowned work with young players has led to the fact that Mega now traditionally starts preparations for the season by competing with the most successful and recognized NCAA teams, often in exotic and worldly destinations such as the Bahamas, Portofino and Mykonos.

What Mega also became world famous for are the club’s unique pink jerseys, which are in demand every day from all over the world. Since at the beginning of the season, Mega promoted the Mega25 logo, which will be current throughout the season. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the club, Mega MIS in the month of its birthday in December is playing in a special birthday set of uniforms with special silver details, and will perform in it for the last time on Monday from 6 p.m., when they will host Igokea in the Hall of sports Ranko Zeravica.

In the coming years, Mega MIS, as the youngest team in the region, will continue with its recognizable work system, which provides an opportunity for young and promising players to gain the necessary experience on the way to the jersey of the national team and NBA clubs.

Photo: Mega MIS