Rudež on Cibona's Spectacular Summer
The champions' coach revealed how Badžim, Mazalin, Gnjidić, and Sikirić arrived at the club, why he believes in risky projects, and what made Cibona an attractive destination once again.
The champions' coach revealed how Badžim, Mazalin, Gnjidić, and Sikirić arrived at the club, why he believes in risky projects, and what made Cibona an attractive destination once again.
After the sensational Croatian championship title, there was little time for celebration at Cibona. Coach Ivan Rudež and sports director Marin Rozić immediately got to work assembling the team for the new season, and judging by the coach's words, the job was done almost flawlessly.
"I only caught my breath in the last few days because we've signed most of the players we wanted," Rudež revealed in an interview with Večernji list. "We did a really good job in the transfer window, signing quality Croatian players, and I'm also satisfied with our American reinforcements."
From last year's championship squad, Serdarušić, Čakarun, Bart, Katanović, and American Hepa remain. The story of the injured Palokaj is particularly emotional, as the club decided to pay for his surgery abroad and offer him a new contract. "The club showed heart and respect here," Rudež emphasized. "And that's one of the ways this club wants to present itself."
The core of the new additions consists of four Croatian signings: Roko Badžim, Lovro Mazalin, Lovro Gnjidić, and Antonio Sikirić. Rudež had specific praise for each. "Mazalin has matured into a modern mobile five, which attracted attention from other clubs too. Sikirić has the best references, he's a very diligent young player, dedicated to basketball," the coach described, adding that Badžim brings much-needed composure with his experience from serious leagues, while Gnjidić is seen as a rising player for whom Cibona will be a bridge to maturity.
It was precisely Gnjidić's signing that raised the most questions due to career fluctuations, but Rudež believes in his potential. "The greater the responsibility with the ball, the greater the risks. We believe in Lovro that he will take an upward trajectory," the coach is clear. "We want to enable his development and progress, focus on his virtues, not the flaws we hear about, which are often highlighted more than virtues."
He recalled a similar risk with bringing in Šiško, who after two years of not playing turned out to be a bullseye. The American additions McGill and Battle are also somewhat unknown quantities, but Rudež is confident in their quality. "We'll have versatile guards. With Gnjidić, we'll have height, speed, and good passing; McGill has scoring ability but also playmaking, while Battle is a player with a solid shot and ball-handling who went through serious American colleges."
To avoid mistakes in player recruitment, Rudež and Rozić conduct thorough background checks. "Today, with two phone calls, you get detailed information about what kind of person you're dealing with," Rudež reveals. "Then you call their former coaches, teammates. There are also two interviews-one conducted by me, the other by the sports director." The key criterion is simple: "If I sense that a player values team victory above personal satisfaction, that's half the green light."
Cibona faces an extremely demanding season, competing in the FIBA Champions League, the regional ABA League, and domestic competitions. "Playing three competitions simultaneously will be challenging, so the idea is to have a roster of 14-15 players. We want to be competitive on all fronts, and for that, we need a pool of always-fresh players because the goal is to win domestic trophies."
The squad is not yet fully complete. "We still need one more center, and we're close to an agreement with a player," Rudež announced. Preparations for the new season begin on August 10, 2026, and two talented juniors, guards Perić and Garac, will train with the first team. "Two juniors will also start preparations with us, who have a huge path ahead. After all, they have to carry the club's junior season," Rudež concluded.
A major change compared to last summer is the club's status. "We're happy that Gnjidić and Sikirić chose us. That shows Cibona has become a popular destination, unlike last summer when we had to persuade players. Now it's completely different, thanks to the trophy won, but also the financial boost in the club."
The club's financial stabilization, the trophy, and participation in prestigious competitions have made Cibona attractive to both domestic and foreign players. "Player agents care that the club is financially stable because then they're sure of their commission, and players are in a stable system," Rudež explained to Večernji list.
