Dusan Alimpijevic's work: Not just winning, but establishing culture

Coming from the Yugoslav basketball tradition, Dusan Alimpijević has already established himself in European basketball despite being only in his early 30s. Reshaping the game not only on the tactical board but also in the minds of his players, Alimpijević is known for a fast-paced, versatile system. However, this basketball vision of his was truly embodied at Beşiktaş. From the moment he took over, he embarked on transforming the team from a club focused solely on results to one with a distinct on-field identity. The squad he acquired in his first season wasn't star-studded. However, this is where Alimpijević's greatest skill came into play: He assigned players responsibilities, not roles. He established a balance of freedom in attack and discipline in defense.

SPACE SHARING-TEMPO

The system he built at Beşiktaş was based on tempo and space sharing. He built a team that played with quick passes and threatened to shoot every 7-8 seconds. Transition offenses became a reflex. His ability to integrate both versatile four-pointers like Dustin Sleva and scoring guards like Jonah Mathews into his system demonstrated the flexibility and manageability of his basketball mind.

Defensively, he established a structure based on contact, aggression, and shifting defense. Beşiktaş's set defense and ball-pressing, particularly in big matches throughout the season, put considerable pressure on opponents. His touches on local players also drew attention. Berk Uğur's career-making season, captain Yiğit Arslan's performance in the most crucial playoff matches, played a key role in the Black and Whites' success.

TEAM IDENTITY

Another innovation brought by the successful coach is the team identity. Beşiktaş now knows what it's playing. They have a structure that poses a threat from behind the three-point line but can also aggressively drive to the basket. They have a system that strives to control the tempo of the game and spreads this power not only to the star players but to the entire team. This understanding has brought Beşiktaş not only league success but also a renewed connection with the fans. Win or lose, the stands can see the kind of basketball this team plays, and no matter the arena, the stands are always empty. This is perhaps Alimpijević's greatest triumph: not just winning games, but establishing a culture. Beşiktaş could be the next stepping stone for Alimpijević, who began his career at the EuroLeague and then made a remarkable breakthrough with Bursaspor. However, the work he's already done demonstrates that he's laying the foundation for a long-term transformation at Beşiktaş, not just for the season.