Navarro Knows What He's Doing, He Just Needs Time! Partizan Suffer Again Under the Punter Curse

"Bring back Dusko Ivanovic to sort this out." "This team isn't even good enough for the domestic league." "Terrible offense, and the defense is a complete catastrophe."

"When we defend like this, we look unstoppable." "A tactical masterclass from Ibon Navarro; defend like that and we are a top-eight team." "Full support for the coach and the squad."

The first three comments were typical fan reactions on social media following Crvena Zvezda's loss to Hapoel, when the Mali Kalemegdan club opened their EuroLeague campaign at 0-2. The latter three, predictably, flooded timelines after Zvezda's historic road win in Dubai this week, which leveled their record at 2-2.

The point of this contrast is that sports fans in Serbia—whether following football, basketball, Zvezda, Partizan, or the national team—jump to conclusions far too quickly. It has always been this way, and it likely always will be. When results dip, fingers are pointed immediately, scapegoats are hunted, and heads are demanded on a platter. When things go well, overconfident predictions take over, lavish praise is written, and trophies are already being placed in the cabinet. There is rarely any middle ground or patience for the process—which is, and must be, a roller-coaster ride. Everything is viewed through a binary lens: it is either a zero or a one. Twos, threes, let alone fours and fives, simply do not exist.

Crvena Zvezda have indeed dug themselves out of an early 0-2 hole, delivered an exceptional defensive clinic against Dubai by holding them to just 58 points, and secured back-to-back victories in Europe's elite competition. Yet, in keeping with that principle, no sweeping conclusions should be drawn just yet. Instead, one thing is clear: Ibon Navarro needs time.

Navarro arrived from Unicaja, stepping into a completely different system and basketball culture for his first taste of the EuroLeague. By round three, he was down to a single traditional center, leaving him thin in the frontcourt, while managing several high-usage ball-handlers and potent scorers—all of whom expect prominent roles, and among whom a pecking order is still taking shape. Given those constraints, it is hardly surprising that Zvezda looked brilliant in flashes during the opening four rounds, only to appear lost and disjointed at other moments. As Navarro noted in his post-game press conference in Dubai, he is "not a magician." He needs an entire season to implement his ideas, alongside roster reinforcements in thin areas, before any definitive judgment is passed.

The triumph in Dubai demonstrated that the Spaniard deserves that trust. Not only did Zvezda defeat a side boasting one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the competition, and not merely because they held them to a paltry 58 points, but because Navarro showed a keen ability to adapt to adverse circumstances and maximize the resources at his disposal.

Despite having only one recognized center in Ebuka Izundu, Navarro's Zvezda outrebounded a towering Dubai frontcourt featuring Mfiondu Kabengele, Tornike Shengelia, Jaron Blossomgame, and Mamadi Diakite (41-36). Outside of the opening seven or eight minutes, Zvezda played suffocating, physical defense—particularly on the perimeter, applying relentless pressure on Dubai's guards. Navarro recognized that the game could not be won trading blows inside against Dubai's size, but rather by running their shooters off the line and contesting mid-range looks. Xavi Pascual's side was held to just 20 made field goals and five three-pointers. McKinley Wright, who frequently punished Zvezda during his stint with Buducnost, finished scoreless; Dwayne Bacon was limited to 13 points (most coming in the opening minutes); and Kabengele was completely cut off from the perimeter.

The centerpiece of Navarro's tactical adjustments was Dejan Davidovac, making his first EuroLeague appearance of the season. The veteran forward neutralized Dubai's big men, pulled down five rebounds, and once again proved that immense winning impact doesn't require high scoring, finishing with just three points. Navarro praised him warmly post-game, calling him "a very intelligent player who will only get better as he gets more game reps with the team rather than just practice sessions."

Then there was Semi Ojeleye operating as a makeshift center, contributing 12 points and seven rebounds. This was no accident; from his first day in charge, Navarro clearly intended to deploy Ojeleye at the five in small-ball lineups. With Ojeleye anchoring the paint, Zvezda lose little interior physicality—few players in Europe match his sheer strength—while gaining the defensive versatility to switch 1 through 5, space the floor, and attack closeouts. Versatile bigs of his profile remain rare commodities in European basketball.

Every team ultimately relies on its players to execute on the floor, but having a head coach with a clear vision, authority, structured system, and proven adaptability is just as critical.

Navarro looks every bit that caliber of coach. He must be afforded the time and space to work, and those around Zvezda need to show patience. In the end, trusting the process is precisely what separates elite clubs from the rest.

With under two minutes remaining in Game 2 of their EuroLeague playoff quarter-final series in Madrid, Partizan held a commanding 15-point lead and looked destined for the Final Four in Kaunas.

"We took both games in Spain, the series is heading back to Belgrade, and we have two match points in front of a packed Arena to finish off the Kings and reach the Final Four." That was the euphoric sentiment among Partizan supporters at the time. With a two-game lead and the series shifting to a Belgrade Arena where Partizan had beaten everyone in their path that season, what could possibly go wrong?

Kevin Punter went wrong. Or Sergio Llull. In truth, both. The veteran Spanish guard—whether out of frustration or as a calculated attempt to spark a deflated team facing elimination—committed a hard foul on Punter. The Partizan captain lost his composure, reacted aggressively, and sparked an infamous brawl that ended with Dante Exum being slammed to the floor by Guerschon Yabusele.

The fallout is well documented: Real Madrid responded by winning twice in Belgrade to tie the series at 2-2, then completed an improbable comeback in Game 5 in Madrid to deny Partizan a Final Four berth. Partizan even led by 18 points early in the third quarter of that decider, but still could not close it out.

Since that playoff series and the brawl sparked by Punter and Llull, Partizan have failed to beat Real Madrid. Home or away, they have now lost 10 consecutive games against the Spanish giants—a bizarre streak that feels like a lingering curse. Their latest defeat came this past round, an 86-76 loss in Madrid.

Partizan's showing at the WiZink Center was far from poor. Carlik Jones led the way once again with 19 points and five assists, while Ethan Thompson added 14 points and eight rebounds. However, offensive support was lacking elsewhere, most notably from Luca Vildoza, who was held to just two points. Defensively, the black-and-whites battled hard throughout, refusing to fold even when Real opened up a nearly 20-point cushion, cutting the deficit to seven in the third quarter. Ultimately, Madrid's sheer quality told, aided by a few costly Partizan turnovers, as the hosts hit tough shots down the stretch to close out the game.

Partizan had entered Madrid on a three-game EuroLeague winning run—beating Olimpia Milano at home, followed by away victories over Paris and Bayern—meaning an upset in Spain was always going to be a tough ask. Real, on the other hand, went into the matchup at 0-3, and a friendly home whistle was hardly a surprise. Real Madrid rarely stay winless for long, and while the officiating did not decide the outcome, the home-court edge was unmistakable.

The matchup also laid bare Partizan's need for roster reinforcements, particularly on the wing and in the frontcourt. Joan Penarroya has assembled a competitive, resilient squad, but against elite opposition like Real Madrid, grit alone is not always enough without reliable shot-making. That was most obvious when Real collapsed on Carlik Jones: kick-out passes found Arijan Lakic, Bandja Sy, and Alessandro Pajola, who combined to shoot 0-for-8 from three-point range.

While all three are valuable, hardworking contributors, relying on them for perimeter scoring is unsustainable. Partizan need a true three-and-D wing and, ideally, a stretch big to open up the floor. Whether suitable options are available on the market remains to be seen.

Overall, while the Kevin Punter curse continues, there is no reason for Partizan to panic. Next week brings a home clash with Panathinaikos before a trip to face Fenerbahce. Winning either of those tough fixtures would put Partizan at 4-2—an excellent start for a squad projected by many to open the season 1-5 or 0-6. Even a 3-3 record after six rounds would represent a solid base.

The priority now is to maintain their defensive intensity, get greater offensive output from Kyle Allman and Luca Vildoza, and pursue targeted additions. If those pieces fall into place, Partizan remain in a strong position.

Were it not for a series of severe injuries—most notably a torn ACL in 2024—Scottie Wilbekin would likely still be regarded as one of the premier point guards in European basketball at age 33.

Instead, extended layoffs took their toll. Over the past two seasons, Wilbekin made just seven EuroLeague appearances for Fenerbahce, leading the Turkish powerhouse to part ways with him this summer.

Dusan Alimpijevic pounced on the opportunity to bring Wilbekin to Besiktas, and that decision is paying off handsomely. Through the opening four rounds, Wilbekin is averaging 18.2 points per game, highlighted by a vintage 24-point performance to lead Besiktas past Baskonia this week.

Wilbekin looked like his former self—the dynamic scorer who once spearheaded Maccabi Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce—proving to everyone, especially his former club, that he can still perform at the highest level. If he stays healthy, Besiktas look set to be a genuine threat this season. The pull-up threes, driving threat, and movement off screens are all back.

Alimpijevic has every reason to be thrilled.

VIDEO: Real Madrid claim convincing victory over Partizan