Croatian national team player Roko Badžim revealed details of his summer training in Šibenik, commented on the World Cup qualifiers and his signing with Cibona, highlighting the great atmosphere in the national team.
Croatian basketball national team player Roko Badžim will soon join Cibona's preparations, but before returning to Zagreb, he has national team duties to attend to. The Šibenik-born shooter, who became the first summer signing of the current Croatian champions, spoke to Sportske novosti about his journey from Baldekin to his return under the Tower, the national team atmosphere, and summer 'five-on-five' games in his hometown.
Badžim's career began at Šibenka, where he made his first-team debut at just 15 years old. Over the next two seasons, he played 64 top-flight matches, and from 2015 to 2017, he was the mainstay of the Baldekin side, which secured a playoff spot in his final season. His father, Živko Badžim, is a former European youth and junior champion with the Yugoslavia national team.
After Šibenka, he moved to Olimpija Ljubljana, where he gained experience in the ABA League and the FIBA Champions League, followed by his first stint at Cibona. His international career took him through Hungary (Szolnoki), Turkey (Konyaspor, Merkezefendi), and Spain (Obradoiro). It was at Merkezefendi in April 2024 that he suffered a severe knee injury that sidelined him for the entire following season.
Meanwhile, he has grown into one of Croatia's best shooters. He made his senior national team debut under coach Veljko Mršić and was a regular under Aco Petrović and Josip Sesar. With the arrival of Tomislav Mijatović, he made further strides and is now the first scoring option off the bench.
Although the end of his vacation is near, Badžim emphasizes that there has been no complete rest. In Šibenik, a large number of basketball players gather for unofficial summer games.
"We're constantly working, I train individually, but since there are many basketball players here in Šibenik, we get together two or three times a week and play 'five-on-five'; they're real games, and it gets pretty heated. Šarić, Radovčić, Nakić, Bošnjak, Andabaka, Junaković, Širko, Jelić, Gabrić come, Matković came a few times from Livno, and Gnjidić, who vacations here... We play in the Jolly hall; most of us are friends with his son, so he gives us the time slots. And there's no letting up; we all love to win, we play to 100, halftime to 50, we split up so the teams are balanced, and then it's every man for himself..."
He is particularly proud that four players from Šibenik are in the national team: himself, Šarić, Radovčić, and Nakić.
Badžim has been part of the national team for five years now and points out that the chemistry within the squad is at an enviable level.
"It's great to play with guys I've known all my life, neighbors and friends from childhood, but not just them-with everyone else too. I've been here for five years, and in that time, I've gotten to know and built relationships with all the national team players."
Stability is also reflected in their play. Croatia enters the second round of qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup with a 5-1 record, and Badžim admits that's a result everyone would have gladly accepted before the start. Still, he laments the only loss.
"We had a won game in Germany, but we shouldn't be greedy because the first game in Zagreb could have easily gone their way. Anyway, the situation is good, and we move on; two important games await us, and now we need to focus only on the first one-against Latvia."
Badžim is more than satisfied with his role in the national team. He emphasizes that playing alongside top teammates allows his shooting-his forte-to shine.
"I think there's no need to waste words on what kind of players Hezonja, Šarić, and Zubac are; they create an extra advantage on the court at all times, all three have high basketball IQs, while Šarić is a computer who sees everything, wants to and loves to pass, to make the 'right play,' as the Americans say. It's a top-notch thing for me to play with such class acts."
The return to Cibona was realized after sports director Marin Rozić contacted him at the end of the season. In early July, an offer came that satisfied him, and he signed a two-year contract. The decision was also influenced by his family situation, as his wife is expecting their second child soon. In addition to being close to home, sporting arguments were decisive: competing in the FIBA Champions League and the club's return to the ABA League.
"As for the team, I'm following the transfer window; I don't know if that's all, but you can definitely see the core. Several good foreign players have been brought in, as well as good Croatian players, so I hope we could look good next season," concluded Roko Badžim.
