Zvezda's Resurgence in Four Acts

After opening their EuroLeague campaign with back-to-back defeats and facing a daunting schedule against Anadolu Efes and a road trip to Dubai, only the most optimistic Crvena Zvezda supporters could have envisioned a 4-2 record after six rounds.

Yet, Zvezda have found their winning formula. The pieces have begun to fall into place under Ibon Navarro. While the Spanish tactician undoubtedly still has areas to fine-tune, the red-and-whites currently look like a formidable force.

Having downed ASVEL just three days prior, Zvezda swept aside their second French opponent of the week to ensure they enter the upcoming derby against Partizan firmly in the playoff places.

Barring a few bright moments, Butler had endured a difficult start to the campaign. Adjusting to a new system while struggling for shooting rhythm, the American guard had yet to deliver the individual brilliance Zvezda fans expected from him.

That all changed against Paris. Despite being on the ropes at the end of the third quarter, the visitors mounted a late charge as Tyson Etienne caught fire from deep, slashing the deficit to just five points. That was when Butler took over.

A composed floater was followed by the highlight of the night: a sensational crossover that shook Faye before Butler sank another mid-range jumper to push the score to 88-81. Paris had no response from there, leaving Belgrade empty-handed.

There has never been any doubt about Jordan Nwora’s offensive pedigree in the EuroLeague. However, persistent questions remained over his defensive commitment—and with good reason.

Yet, something appears to have clicked under Navarro. The head coach has evidently convinced Nwora—as emphasized in the post-game press conference—that he must contribute at both ends of the floor, and the former Efes forward is finally unlocking his full potential.

It was his defensive work in crunch time that proved decisive. With the lead down to five, Nwora disrupted a Paris fast break to force a crucial turnover, smothered Tyson Etienne on a key possession, and drew an offensive foul that effectively sealed the contest.

Nwora showed that when fully engaged, he can dominate both ends of the floor and impact games in multiple ways.

Things looked bleak after the opening two rounds, with critics quick to question Navarro following early European defeats and a domestic setback against FMP.

However, as so often happens, the narrative has flipped completely. Four straight EuroLeague victories have propelled Zvezda to fifth in the standings, sitting just behind heavyweights Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and Fenerbahce, while level with Valencia.

Both the squad and the fanbase have bought into Navarro's blueprint. The early-season misfortune has turned around, paved by statement victories against Efes, Dubai, ASVEL, and Paris.

Next up is the Eternal Derby—a clash eagerly anticipated across Europe—where the outcome could shape the momentum and trajectory of both Serbian powerhouses for the rest of the campaign.

VIDEO: Chris Jones with a spectacular basket as Zvezda extend their lead to the maximum!