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Borislav Stanković
Борислав Станковић
Borislav Bora Stanković.jpg
2nd Secretary General of FIBA
In office
1 January 1976 – 1 January 2003
Preceded by William Jones
Succeeded by Patrick Baumann
Personal details
Born (1925-07-09)9 July 1925
Bihać, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Died 20 March 2020(2020-03-20) (aged 94)
Nationality Serbian
Alma mater University of Belgrade
Nicknames Bora (Serbian Cyrillic: Бора),
Boris (Борис)
Career information
Pro career 1946–1953
Coaching career 1950–1970
Career history
As player:
1946–1948 Crvena Zvezda
1948–1950 Železničar Belgrade
1950–1953 Partizan
As coach:
1950–1953 Partizan
1953–1962 OKK Belgrade
1964–1965 OKK Belgrade
1966–1969 Cantù
1969–1970 OKK Belgrade
Career highlights and awards
As player:
  • 3× Yugoslav League champion (1946–1948)

As head coach:

  • 3× Yugoslav League champion (1958, 1960, 1964)
  • Italian League champion (1968)
  • 2× Yugoslav Cup winner (1960, 1962)

As executive:

  • Olympic Order (1985)

Borislav "Bora" Stanković (born July 9, 1925 – died March 20, 2020) was a very important person in the world of basketball. He was a talented player and coach from Serbia. Later, he became the second leader of FIBA, which is the international basketball organization. He was even honored in the Basketball Hall of Fame!

Who Was Borislav Stanković?

Borislav Stanković, often called Bora, was born in Bihać, Yugoslavia. He grew up to be a key figure in basketball. He was known for his skills both on the court and as a leader.

Early Life and Education

Bora Stanković went to the University of Belgrade. He studied to become a veterinarian. This shows he was smart and dedicated, not just to sports.

Playing Career: A Champion on the Court

Bora started playing basketball in 1946. He played as a center, which is a key position. He played for famous teams like Crvena Zvezda and Partizan.

  • He won the Yugoslav League championship three times. This was from 1946 to 1948.
  • He also played for the Yugoslavian national team. This means he represented his country in international games.

Coaching Career: Leading Teams to Victory

After playing, Bora became a basketball coach. He coached from 1950 to 1970. He was very successful as a coach too.

  • He led OKK Belgrade to win the Yugoslav League three times. These wins were in 1958, 1960, and 1964.
  • He also coached in Italy, leading Cantù to an Italian League championship in 1968.
  • His teams also won the Yugoslav Basketball Cup twice.

Leading FIBA: A Global Basketball Visionary

Bora Stanković's biggest role was as the Secretary General of FIBA. FIBA is the International Basketball Federation. It's like the main organization for basketball around the world.

Becoming FIBA's Leader

He became the second Secretary General of FIBA in 1976. He took over from William Jones. Bora held this important position for a long time. He served for 27 years, until 2003.

Impact and Achievements at FIBA

As FIBA's leader, Bora Stanković helped basketball grow globally. He worked to make the sport popular everywhere. He made many important changes.

  • He helped bring professional basketball players to the Olympic Games. Before him, only amateur players could compete. This was a huge step for the sport.
  • He worked to unite different basketball rules worldwide. This made the game more consistent.
  • He was given the Olympic Order in 1985. This is a special award from the International Olympic Committee. It recognizes his great service to sports.

Retirement and Legacy

Bora Stanković retired from FIBA in 2003. He left a lasting impact on basketball. His work helped shape the modern game we see today.

  • He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. This is a very high honor for anyone in basketball.
  • He is also in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Borislav Stanković para niños

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