Pre-Draft Contact
The 2-meter-27-centimeter guardian of the paint, Boban Marjanović.
But NBA scouts' evaluations of Boban were harsh at this point. The basketball world favored big men who could switch on pick-and-rolls and defend in space.
Boban didn't fit either category.
He could get hunted on pick-and-rolls by opponents, and his lack of transition speed made it hard to adapt to the NBA's fast pace.
The result? Undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft.
'Still, his rim protection is legit.'
A middle-aged man watching the game.
A scout from an NBA team was observing indifferently.
Only two scouts had shown up at the arena today.
Everyone else was off scouting centers like Sarić, Nurkic, or Capela—nobody cared about Boban, who was already pegged as an undrafted prospect.
Jokić was no different.
Even though he'd stepped up with 11 points per game this season, it wasn't on the level of Sarić or Nurkic.
Plus, this draft class was a bumper crop, with all 30 first-round picks seemingly locked up by NCAA players. Unproven Europeans weren't high on the priority list.
'If Jokić declared for this draft, maybe snag him in the second round. Same with Mićić... but Mićić might just stay in Europe if he's picked there. Not worth a first-rounder.'
Athleticism was the issue. Both Jokić and Mićić had question marks on their athleticism and defense, capping their upside.
That's why he was focused on Seojun, not them.
A swingman showing athleticism and shooting potential.
His athletic tools needed top-league verification, but they looked at least NBA average—no worse.
'And his defensive instincts are top-notch.'
Great athleticism, solid defense, and shooting talent?
That screamed elite 3&D potential.
In the current meta, elite 3&D wings commanded big contracts, if not max deals, then close.
'If we grab him late, he could be a steal.'
Seojun wasn't drawing major buzz yet. He'd impressed scouts in the Sarić matchup, but it hadn't sparked serious team interest.
NBA intel networks were NCAA-focused by default.
With limited picks—two per team—they had no bandwidth for non-Americans.
Foreign picks required long-term observation, not impulse buys.
If Seojun were in EuroLeague, it'd be different—but he wasn't.
So when those scouts reported, "High-potential Asian kid in Serbia," the front office replied, "We'll review, but focus on Sarić's report for now."
No one knew if Seojun would even declare this year.
He hovered on the edge of interest and obscurity.
'If I can get a bit more conviction, I'll push the front office...'
The scout kept watching Seojun intently.
Seojun was scrambling to break Boban's rim protection.
He first tried pulling Boban out with Jokić screens or luring help away, but Zvezda ran drop coverage.
Boban stayed home, hovering in the paint for drives.
That left Mićić open off screens or Jokić for pick-and-pops—but Zvezda was fine conceding those.
Jokić wasn't a shooter yet; Mićić was at a dismal 29% from three.
'Drop coverage is working.'
Seojun was countering with off-ball movement.
From the corner, he flashed to free Jokić.
Mićić passed it over, and Jokić handoffed with Seojun.
Textbook vs. drop: free big man handoff.
Seojun sandwiched his man with Jokić as a screen, creating chaos, then attacked gaps for drives or shots off Jokić's quick pass.
"Hup...!"
Snap! Seojun curled off the screen for an open three.
But clang! It rimmed out.
"Tch, not feeling it today..."
Confirming his shot was off, Seojun pivoted to drives.
Jokić rolled with him.
Seojun drew Boban, then hit Jokić late—free of contest, Jokić floated it home.
"Niki, cut faster. A split-second later and it'd get picked or contested."
"You went too early. Wait for it—I'll show you next time."
Next possession, Jokić faked the handoff pass, bullied in with heavy dribbles, drawing Boban.
As he neared the rim, he floated up.
Boban contested—but it was a fake!
Thud! Seojun snagged Jokić's lob in midair, powered past his man for a two-hand alley-oop slam.
"Nice pass."
Jokić grinned.
"Floater's great for lobs. Perfect fake."
"Fooled me too. Jumped anyway, and there it was."
"Haha."
Clap! They high-fived, chemistry clicking.
With three minutes left in the first, Mega Vizura led 19-18.
Zvezda coach Dejan Radonjić bit his tongue unwittingly.
'That random Asian kid elevated Mega Vizura—it's real!'
Boban struggling like this was rare.
'But not over yet.'
These 2-on-2s didn't fully crack drop coverage. They were drawing into the paint, where drop shone.
Repetition would let defense adjust, dropping efficiency.
True counter? Outside shooting.
End of first: 24-24.
Adriatic League big four lived up to the hype—strong on both ends.
'Our threes had popped, it'd be easier.'
Our starters' 3PT% was brutal.
Radović: zero attempts. Jokić: six tries.
Mićić and Dangubić chucked 2-3 per game—still trash.
'That's why they drop like zone.'
Pre-second quarter, coach Milošević eyed me.
"Seojun, shots off today?"
"Yeah... nothing positive. It'll heat up if I keep firing."
"No time. You're at the three now. Go aggressive."
Me at small forward over Dangubić? Then shooting guard...
Coach glanced at one player.
"Subin! Get ready! You're in for the second!"
"...!!"
Subin jolted like struck by lightning, then nodded firmly, stripping off his warmups.
From 2 MPG to rotation spot.
Huge stakes—no pep talk, just pray he nails it.
Subin hit the court.
Kim Yun-mi blinked in disbelief—her son entering at this moment?
Then she realized, yelling shakily.
"Shin Subin fighting! My son, fiiiight...!!"
Our ball to start the second.
At the three, I slid to left 45°—coach's plan clear.
'If threes won't drop, break it with my iso.'
Trusting my one-on-one now.
But not primary option—Subin was.
Same pattern: Boban stayed put on Jokić.
Jokić grabbed it for handoff.
Pat-pat! Subin burst from right corner.
Tang! Jokić drove instead—Charles Jenkins bit on Jokić.
Whoosh! No-look to Subin at 45° like tossing trash.
"...Hoo!"
Subin exhaled, fired wide-open three.
Form wobbly yet magnetic.
Swoosh! Pure.
"Come onnn!"
"That's it!"
"Knew you had it!"
I roared instinctively. Jokić, Mićić too.
Subin, scorer, stayed stoic.
'Game-changer!'
That quenched our thirst.
Zvezda responded: Boban 2/2 FTs, 27-26.
"One more!"
Mićić signaled eagerly.
Pattern 13—my jersey.
Jokić first: no screen, short left corner to shift Boban left.
I pick-and-roll with Mićić, forcing switch.
My 3PT% forces it.
Buy time? They’re recovering—but I kept the pressure on their PG, DeMarcus Nelson.
Thud! Thud!
"Urk...!?"
Nelson shoved back.
Others twitched—help or no?
I drove right, creating angle.
'Two counters.'
Boban helps off Jokić, or Jenkins from corner.
Prepped for both—Jenkins bit.
Tat! Subin relocated.
Kickout—splash! Subin drained another.
"My bro's insane!"
"Hyung, you nailed it."
Back-to-back threes. Zvezda offense fizzles: 30-26.
My rhythm ignited—fired up off Subin's run.
"Mić! Same pattern again!"
"Haha, love it."
They adjusted: Jenkins stayed planted—spacing from Subin's bombs.
'One left.'
Boban's help.
(Mićić ready if other.)
I bullied in—no-look drive.
Tat-tat! Boban abandoned Jokić.
Could layup/dunk, draw foul.
But block risk high—safer play.
'Old me: pass or jumper.'
New option.
Lobbed before Boban set—floater-runner hybrid, shaky but swish!
Jokić scoffed.
"Whoa, that went in?"
Mićić too.
"Desperate heave?"
I cleared throat, backpedaled. First try, solid grade.
"Worry 'bout D, not me! Defense!"
"Defense!"
Team rolling.
Mićić fed me relentlessly—test their stops.
They hedged/recovered, dodging mismatch.
Didn't matter—matchup: Marco Simonović, same size/position.
'Handled Randall—why not this?'
Thud! Simonović held, but power opened speed lanes.
"Hup!"
"...!"
Tang! Right drive.
Dribble crisp—four months transformed it.
European textbook handling: high school vs. grad school.
Still raw, but pierced cleanly—no forcing.
"Tch...!"
Tat-tat! Boban helps again.
I raised for floater... nope.
Whoosh! Cross-court.
"...!?"
Boban spun—too late.
Jokić tip-in alley-oop.
"Like this, right?"
"Quick learner."
Clap!
Assault continued—score hit 45-35.
Boban, coach faces stiffened.
Mega Vizura toyed with Zvezda.
Scout smacked lips.
No threes from Seojun today, but evaluation up.
'Court vision's elite! New gem!'
Undiscovered by others.
'Gotta draft him—steal potential!'
First-round? Debatable.
Second? Top or mid—must-have.
'Time for contact.'
International drafts had quirks—picks could vanish without it.
"Front office first..."
Scout phoned, heading out.
He thought he alone saw Seojun's upside...
"..."
Another man watched meaningfully.