Serbian basketball player Nikola Kalinić, a day after announcing the end of his career, sent a heartfelt thank you to everyone who was part of his 17-year journey, and he remains with Crvena Zvezda as a member of the coaching staff.
Serbian basketball player Nikola Kalinić bid farewell to his playing career with an emotional message published on August 18, 2026, a day after announcing on Monday that he was ending his 17-year professional journey. As reported by Kurir.rs, Kalinić will remain with Crvena Zvezda, where he will join the coaching staff and begin a new chapter in his professional life.
In his post, Kalinić thanked everyone who marked his career, emphasizing that he was incredibly fortunate to fulfill the dreams he had as a boy. "That's it, the moment has come to say enough. A wonderful 17-year journey comes to an end. I had incredible luck to accomplish everything I ever wanted," Kalinić said.
He also admitted his own mistakes but highlighted the perseverance that guided him throughout his career. "I made mistakes, stupid things, and foolishness-there were plenty of them, but I never gave up. I always believed that in the next game I would be better and smarter," he added.
He especially thanked his teammates, coaches, club staff, fans, and everyone who supported, praised, or criticized him. "I know I wasn't always easy to work with, but I have my principles and values that I don't give up on. It's been a wild ride, and thank you all. We continue the adventure, just in different roles," he concluded.
Nikola Kalinić was born on November 8, 1991, in Subotica. He began his professional career with Spartak, then played for Novi Sad, Vojvodina, and Radnički Kragujevac before first joining Crvena Zvezda in 2014.
After a season with Zvezda, a major transfer to Fenerbahçe followed, where he spent five years in Istanbul. With the Turkish club, he won the EuroLeague in 2017, along with three Turkish league titles and two national cups. He then played for Valencia, and in 2021, he returned to Crvena Zvezda, where in his second stint he won the ABA League, the Serbian League, and the Serbian Cup, and was named the ABA League MVP.
Kalinić then wore the Barcelona jersey, with which he won the Spanish League in 2023. He returned to Crvena Zvezda for a third time in 2024 and remained with the club until the end of his playing career. With the Serbian national team, he won silver medals at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
After 17 years on the court, Kalinić now stays with Crvena Zvezda in a new role as a member of the coaching staff, thus beginning a new era with the club where he spent most of his career.
