Once Serbia's most talented player: I might return, who knows? (PHOTO)

One's first thought of Nemanja Aleksandrov is usually of the extraordinary Red Star's basketball talent, the one that had NBA career in front of him.

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Although injury prevented that, he now builds a successful career in Oldenburg, in Bundesliga.

Since he came to Germany in 2013, one round after another he confirmed why he is one of the reasons for his club's great performances.

Oldenburg occupied position number six, after they had beaten Alba thanks to Aleksandrov. This power forward has a lot of reasons to be happy with the ongoing season.

- It's all good for now - told Aleksandrov for Telegraf. He is now tough to recognize because he grew a beard like Miroslav Raduljica.

- I see the chance for progress everywhere, and I try to keep it that way.

The season is at an ending phase so I will not have the complete picture until it is over. We had a lot of ups and downs as a team, but we are finding the right tempo and I hope we will have less oscillations as we approach play-offs.

Thanks to numerous Serbian players and big names like Sasa Obradovic and Svetislav Pesic, our public is more and more interested in Bundesliga, Nemanja confirmed.

- This league gained a lot of quality. It has been invested in its marketing but, more importantly, in its players. There has been an influx of great players and coaches. Bayern Munich contributed the quality since it found its place on the basketball scene 3 years ago. It is all going so well. The development is steady, all leading to Bundesliga's becoming the best league in Europe by 2020, which is our main goal - Nemanja said.

Foto: Profimedia

Nemanja openly shows his love to the Belgrade's Red Star, for he made his first basketball steps there. We asked him to evaluate this season club's performance.

- I have been following Red Star with great pleasure. They have made great success by entering the Top 16 in the Euroleague.

- They set the record of consecutive wins in the Jadran league and secured the first position before play-offs. These are all valuable results, the ones that matter to Serbian basketball, the ones that take her back on the right track. It is so good to look at them play, I really enjoy watching them.

- Playing for the Red Star was the best period of my professional career. No matter the result, I was happy because I wore the Red Star jersey! Could I have done more, I do not know, I am not the kind of person that looks back, I am focused on the present and the future. Moreover, I do not think about the end of my career. I might return to Serbia one day, why not, but at this moment it is my priority to stay focused at the present.

Foto: MN Press

- Comparing Red Star as he knew it from 2006 to 2009 and the one he sees now, Aleksandrov finds almost no difference...

- There is no big difference between the period I played and the present, we had great team and individuals back then too. Of course, participating in the Euroleague has raised everything to a whole new level, so now fans have big game treats every week in the Belgrade Arena. It is a big deal, we did not have that back then, but we had great team.

Looking back at Nemanja's steady performances, it is clear that there is a possibility that he might be invited by Aleksandar Djordjevic to the national team, an invitation that this player has never declined. He has been awarded the title of the best young player of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, the same year he won the gold at the European championships under 16. He was also invited to participate in the 'Nike hoop summit' as an exceptionally talented basketball player.

- It is a common phrase, but it is also a fact that it is an honor to play for the national team. At least I see it as an honor. I am focused to give my best and play at the top level for my club, and if that is enough for the national team, I will be available. Since the beginning of my career I had that exceptional motive to play for Serbia. Than has not changed since so if I ever get the invitation I would give my best to live up to their expectations.

The ones that have not followed Nemanja's career and missed his stops in Slovenia's Italian's, Belgium's and Spain's league may be surprised when saw him all tattooed and with long beard.

- No special reason for that, I simply wanted it, it was all natural, as I felt along the way. I love all this, especially the tattoos which my wife and I adore - confessed Nemanja.

His wife, ex basketball player and now fitness and wellness supporter, finds great support in Nemanja.

I think that is outstanding, mostly because she motivates people around her to live healthy and active lifestyle. She has this unbelievable energy and approach to training, influencing everyone that train with her. We have the same attitude towards many things and she really makes me proud.

- I spend my free time with Jasmina, if she is in Germany, or hanging out with Srdjan Klaric who lives in Germany for more than two decades and works for the club in which I play - which makes Nemanja focused on basketball at all times.

(N.M.)