KK Union Olimpija
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| KK Union Olimpija | ||||
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| Leagues | UPC Telemach League Euroleague Adriatic League |
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| Founded | 1946 | |||
| Arena | Arena Stožice (capacity: 13,000) |
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| Location | Ljubljana, Slovenia | |||
| Team colors | Green and White |
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| President | Janez Rajgelj | |||
| Head coach | Sašo Filipovski | |||
| Championships | 15 National Championships 18 National Cups 6 Slovenian Supercups 6 Yugoslav Championships 1 Adriatic Championship 1 Saporta Cup 2 SBA League Championships |
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| Website | Olimpija.com | |||
| Uniforms | ||||
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KK Union Olimpija is a professional basketball team that is based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The team competes in the Premier A Slovenian League, the Adriatic League, and the Euroleague.
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[edit] History
In the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, green and white are the colours of Union Olimpija, a club that has become known as something of a talent farm. Olimpija basketball club, was founded in 1946 as a section of the Svoboda Physical Culture Society. The first basketball game was played the same year against Udarnik and Olimpija came out on top with the score of 37-14. Late in 1946, the club was renamed Enotnost and was known by that name until 1954 when it assumed the name ASK Olimpia.
Since 1997, the club has been called by it current name, Union Olimpija. Olimpija conquered its first YUBA Liga title of then Yugoslavia in 1957. In one of the world's best emerging leagues, Olimpija went on to dominate the next 15 years, winning the Yugoslav title five more times, in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966 and 1970. A new era for the club began with Slovenia's independence, when dominance took on another meaning, namely 10 consecutive years of winning both the league and cup trophies in Slovenia.
On the international stage, 1993–94 was the club's best season as they took home the European Cup against the Spanish ACB League club Tau Ceramica under the direction of coach Zmago Sagadin. In 2001–02, the Slovenian team won the small triple crown, taking the Slovenian League championship, Slovenian Cup, and the Adriatic League. The club added to its trophy collection in 2002–03, winning the Slovenian Cup.
[edit] Naming
The club was established in 1946 as the basketball department of the larger sports club Svoboda (in English, "Freedom"). Later it changed names quite a few times, from Enotnost (1947–54) (Unity) to AŠK Olimpija (1955–76), to Brest Olimpija (1977–78), to Iskra Olimpija (1979–82), to ZZI Olimpija (1983), to Smelt Olimpija (1984, 1986–96), and finally, to Union Olimpija (1997-now). The last five names of the team have all included names of the main sponsors of the team.
[edit] Arenas
The team played in Tabor Gymnasium first, then moved to the 6,000 capacity Dvorana Tivoli sports arena in 1965. The club then moved into their new arena, Arena Stožice, with a capacity of 13,000, in 2010.
[edit] Current Roster
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Union Olimpija roster
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Roster |
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[edit] Depth Chart
| Pos. | Starter | Bench | Bench | Reserve | Injured |
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| Deon Thompson | Robert Rothbart | ||||
| Željko Zagorac | Goran Jagodnik | Gezim Morina | |||
| Vladimir Dašić | Dino Murić | Erjon Kastrati | |||
| Casey Mitchell | Sasu Salin | Jaka Blažič | |||
| PG | Goran Jeretin | Jan Močnik |
[edit] Squad Changes for the 2011-2012 Season
[edit] In
Ben Woodside (from 
BCM Gravelines)- Deon Thompson (from
Ikaros BC) 
Aleksandar Ćapin (from 
BC Žalgiris)- Jaka Blažič (from KD Slovan)
- Danny Green (from San Antonio Spurs)
Ratko Varda (from 
Asseco Prokom Gdynia)
Robert Rothbart (from Maccabi Haifa B.C.)- Jan Močnik (from
Snaidero Udine) 
Vladimir Dašić (from Acea Virtus Roma)- Željko Zagorac (from
Aliağa Petkim) - Goran Jeretin (from
Artland Dragons) - Eric Dawson (from Austin Toros)
- Casey Mitchell (from Sioux Falls Skyforce)
[edit] Out
Giorgi Shermadini (to Panathinaikos)- return from a loan- Kenny Gregory (to SLUC Nancy Basket)
- Samo Udrih(to
CB Valladolid) 
Aloysius Anagonye(to CB Valladolid)- Vladimir Boisa(to Panionios B.C.)
- Jaka Klobučar (to KK Krka)
Vlado Ilievski (to Anadolu Efes)- Sašo Ožbolt (to
KK Zagreb) - Jan Špan (to KK Maribor)
- Danny Green (to San Antonio Spurs)
- Ben Woodside (to BC Armia)
- Ratko Varda (to
BC Azovmash) - Damir Markota (to KK Zagreb)
- Aleksander Ćapin (to Türk Telekom B.K.)
Dāvis Bertāns (to 
Partizan)- Eric Dawson (to Austin Toros)
[edit] Out on Loan
- Gezim Morina (to KD Hopsi Polzela)
Erjon Kastrati (to KK Škofja Loka)
Affia Ambadiang (to KK Škofja Loka)- Đorđe Mičić (to KK Škofja Loka)
- Jure Gabrovšek (to KK Triglav)
[edit] Notable successes
- Champions of former Yugoslavian League (6): 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1970
- Champions of Slovenian League (15): 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
- Champions of Slovenian National Cup (18): 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 , 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Champions of Slovenian Super Cup (6): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009
International competitions:
- Champions of Adriatic League (1): 2001-02
- Champions of Saporta Cup (1): 1993-94
- 3rd place in Euroleague: 1996-97
- Euroleague Semifinals (2): 1961-62, 1966-67 (Final Four)
- SBA League Champions (2): 1994, 1995
[edit] Notable players
[edit] Notable coaches
- Zmago Sagadin (1985-1995, 1996-2002, 2005-2006)
- Tomo Mahorič (2002-2003, 2006)
- Sašo Filipovski (2003-2005, 2011-)
- Memi Bečirović (2007-2008)
- Aleksandar Džikić (2008)
- Jure Zdovc (2008-2011)
[edit] Olimpija players who have played in the NBA
[edit] Individual awards
[edit] Euroleague Awards
| Season | Name | Award |
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| 2001-02 |  Beno Udrih |
Euroleague Weekly MVP |
| 2003-04 |  Dženan Rahimić |
Euroleague Weekly MVP |
| 2006-07 |  Teemu Rannikko |
Euroleague Weekly MVP |
| 2007-08 | Marko Milič |
Euroleague Weekly MVP |
| 2009-10 |  Matt Walsh |
Euroleague Weekly MVP |
| 2010-11 | Goran Jagodnik Kenny Gregory |
Euroleague Monthly MVP Euroleague Weekly MVP |
[edit] Adriatic League Awards
[edit] Greatest Euroleague Contributors
[edit] Basketball Hall of Fame
[edit] FIBA Hall of Fame
[edit] External links
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