Luca Mitorevic (27, 2.06 m) arrives in Jerusalem with high expectations, but also with quite a few question marks • The advantages: five years of experience in the Euroleague, a versatile inside player with high delivery abilities • The disadvantages: two serious injuries that stopped his career and mediocre shooting • Avi Segal is a surgeon

• Mitrovic. From the creator of the Red Star

  Photo: 

  From Twitter

In Israeli basketball, American foreigners tend to be thrown away, hence the signing of Luka Mitrovic (27, 2.06 m) at Hapoel Jerusalem (not for the first time in recent years - Omich, Kopshas). Is considered an anomaly in the landscape. According to a professional analysis of his career and his current situation, the Reds bought a stock that is not at its peak, but with potential for rise and gain. This is a player with a record of 5 seasons in the Euroleague, who is looking for a way back to the top levels.

Without underestimating the value of Jerusalem, it is likely that Mitrovic expected to play regularly in the Euroleague at the beginning of his career and not sign with a team that plays in the FIBA ​​Champions League, and also on a temporary contract (signed for the Final 8 tournament with an all-season option).

Expectations of him are indeed high, although it must be emphasized that he was not included in the category of stars who came out of the Red Star - Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marko Godoric, Nikola Kalinic and Stefan Jovic - and reached No.Biy and the top of the Euroleague. As a European basketball professional put it: "He's a solid player." What stopped his career and progress are two serious injuries. 

Mitrovic went through the entire Serbian national team chain including winning the silver medal at the 2011 Under-19 World Championships. Already in 2011/12 at the age of 18 he played in the Adriatic League 24 games in the uniform of the Muparm and Arsatz. A season later he moved to the Red Star. In the 2014/15 season he made nice numbers of 10 points in the Adriatic and 8.5 in the Euroleague and added about 6 rebounds per game. After this season he was selected 60th in the NBA Draft by Philadelphia, but did not play in its ranks. 

Mitrovic in Manresa uniform // Photo: From Twitter

A season later came the first serious injury and it is hard to ignore the setback that followed. Despite this after 5 years at the Red Star Belgrade - in 4 of them he played in the Euroleague - he moved to the German Bamberg (2017/18) who then played in the Euroleague. It was a disappointing season during which he was injured again. After the season in Germany, Mitrovic returned to play basketball only in January 2019 when he joined Spanish Murcia and last season landed again in a mediocre Spanish team - Manresa with whom he met Hapoel Holon in the FIBA ​​Champions Cup. 

In terms of character and team connection Mitrovic receives praise from wall to wall. Professional: If Mitrovic had been playing in the Euroleague today with the top teams he would have been destined for position number 4, although he is very limited in his shooting from the outside. In the Champions League and our Premier League he can definitely play in the chin position. 

If his ability to move between positions is the advantage, shooting is his disadvantage. A great scorer is not. His other advantages are playing with his back to the basket, understanding the game and his delivery ability.