A Player, A Man, A Warrior! Former Zvezda Star Sends Message to Nikola Kalinić via Sportal: I'd Always Go to War With You, Because I Know!

Nikola Kalinić has officially announced his retirement from a distinguished playing career. Spanning over a decade and a half, Kalinić established himself as one of Europe's most tenacious and reliable players in his position.

Following his retirement, his former Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet teammate, Isaiah Canaan, spoke to Sportal, offering high praise for the Serbian basketball player:

The primary motivation for this decision was Kalinić's desire to dedicate more time to his family. However, the decorated basketball player is not leaving Crvena Zvezda, nor is he stepping away from basketball entirely.

For the next two years, he will join the coaching staff as an assistant coach to the new head coach, Ibon Navarro, while simultaneously completing his coaching education.

Over 12 EuroLeague seasons, Kalinić played a total of 383 games for Fenerbahçe, Crvena Zvezda, Barcelona, and Valencia. With 3,043 points scored, he ranks fourth among Serbian scorers in the 21st century in this competition, and with 281 steals, he holds the record among Serbian basketball players in EuroLeague history.

His greatest club success came in 2017 when he won the EuroLeague with Fenerbahçe. Additionally, he has won the regional ABA League, and national championships in Serbia, Turkey, and Spain.

He also left an indelible mark on the Serbian national team, with whom he won two significant silver medals — at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

VIDEO Standing Ovation for Nikola Kalinić!