The legendary coach of Brazil spoke to Sport Klub about his streetball days with Dražen, analyzed the strength of the 'Checkered Ones,' and previewed the crucial World Cup qualifiers for Qatar.
Aleksandar Aco Petrović, the legendary Croatian basketball player and current head coach of the Brazilian national team, attended the grand finale of the PRO 3x3 Tour at the stunning Ruža vjetrova location in Novalja. In an extensive interview with Sport Klub, which broadcast all nine qualifying tournaments held across Croatia, he reminisced about his beginnings, shared anecdotes about his brother Dražen, and sent a clear message ahead of the World Cup in Qatar: he wants to avoid Croatia in the draw.
In Novalja, where he has been a summer regular for 35 years, Petrović spoke with particular warmth about his basketball roots. "Back in the day, when I was 14, 15, 16 years old, my beginnings were tied to streetball. We played 2-on-2, 3-on-3, depending on the court down in Šibenik. Those were the real beginnings where you could immediately see who had the gift and talent," recalled the Brazil coach.
He quickly pointed out a young player from the tournament: "Watching a game here in Novalja, you can immediately sense who's gifted, that young Ramljak from Vinkovci has great potential, a soft touch, and practically single-handedly decided the semifinal game."
Recalling the days when games were played on the legendary Partizan court and local hoops at Baldekin, Aco shared an anecdote about his brother Dražen. "A couple of cocky guys from Belgrade came once, determined to play against Dražen at all costs. I think his teammate in that 2-on-2 game was Neven Spahija. Naturally, those guys lost that game, and afterward, they just packed up and headed back to Belgrade (laughs)," said Petrović, adding that it's precisely in tight spaces and quick passing that you can best see who has that extra 'polish' for basketball.
Speaking about his work in Brazil, Petrović divided his seven years there into two phases. The first, a four-year period, was dedicated to rebuilding one of the oldest national teams in the world, which then featured Marcelinho Huertas, Alex Garcia, and Marquinhos. "However, the real work essentially began two years ago," he emphasized.
The results have been spectacular. "We won the pre-Olympic tournament in Latvia, reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, where we were stopped by the American 'Dream Team' with LeBron James, but we would have had a chance against anyone else. After that, we also won the 2025 AmeriCup, defeating powerhouses like the Dominican Republic with Karl-Anthony Towns, the USA, and Argentina in the final," Petrović listed.
Brazil is currently undefeated in World Cup qualifying, but Petrović is aware that the real challenges are still ahead. "We're at 6-0 right now, but it's fair to say the real tests are yet to come," he said. He announced that in about ten days, he'll travel to Brazil, where his team faces two important games in the fourth window: August 27, 2026, against the Dominican Republic, and August 31, 2026, away to Mexico.
The Dominican Republic will come at full strength, as they trail Brazil by two wins and will try to get back into contention for a spot. Petrović will have nearly all his best players available for this window: "For the upcoming window, I'll have 15 of our 16 best players on the court. The only one missing will be Gui Santos from the Golden State Warriors, given his insurance is extremely high, and we don't want to pay that money right now because we believe we're already one foot in the World Cup."
When asked about the possibility of Croatia and Brazil meeting at the World Cup in Qatar, Petrović honestly admitted: "Uh, I wouldn't want to cross paths with Croatia! To be honest, I wouldn't want us to be in the same part of the draw as Croatia. A starting five of Smith, Badžim, Hezonja, Šarić, and Zubac is simply, hellish."
Brazil, a nation of 225 million people with over 40 players currently in America, is marching toward Qatar with the highest ambitions under the Croatian expert's guidance, but Petrović is aware that Croatia could be one of the most dangerous obstacles on that path.
