"I battled him in one way, and he battled me in another!" Lazić recalls legendary duels with Bogdanović: "I was helpless!"
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Branko Lazić recently concluded his illustrious 15-season career with Crvena Zvezda, marked by countless trophies.
The captain of the red-and-whites was synonymous with the club's resurgence from the depths, numerous championship titles, legendary EuroLeague campaigns, and an immense number of Belgrade derbies against Partizan.
Lazić recently sat down for an interview with Nova.rs, where he reflected on the changes over the 15 years since he first donned the red-and-white jersey.
"I had thicker hair back then (laughs)... A lot has changed, from the moment I first joined Zvezda to my very last game. I started my Zvezda career with a win during pre-season in Zlatibor, and 15 years later, I ended it with a loss in Subotica. I wasn't even aware it would be my last game... In between, it was a beautiful journey, full of many memories and good times, more good than bad. I always try to look at the positive side, as difficult as that can be these days." - Branko Lazić
Lazić holds the record for appearances in the Eternal Derby, with 95 games, and he also spoke about this remarkable achievement.
"I played 95 of them with a positive win-loss record (58 wins, editor's note). People told me, when I played my approximately 430th game for Zvezda and topped that list, that one day, when I finished my career, I would truly understand the magnitude of everything I had accomplished. I'm still taking their word for it until I fully grasp it myself." - Branko Lazić
He once again recalled his duels against his great rival, Bogdan Bogdanović, whom he considers the toughest player he ever had to guard.
"Everyone has asked me that, and I've given the same answer every time. Bogdan Bogdanović, the answer hasn't changed even after all this time. I was helpless against him. I 'battled' him in one way, and he battled me in another," he reminisced with a smile about the duels that, in a way, defined his career. - Branko Lazić
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