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Former Timberwolf Nikola Pekovic reportedly tied to criminal group
A request has been filed against a member of the Montenegrin Army, Boris Dragaš (45) from Pljevlja, to initiate misdemeanor proceedings under the Law on the Prevention of Drug Abuse. The Police Directorate, under its initials, announced that BD was driving an armored BMW X5 owned by NP, who they said was a high-ranking member of an organized crime group from northern Montenegro. "Vijesti" has been confirmed by several sources that this is the famous basketball player Nikola Peković and that, according to police records, he is a member of the Šarić brothers' criminal group. According to the same information, there were two other people in that car, one of whom was an employee of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Pekovic, 39, has been identified as a member of the Saric brothers’ criminal group. It remains unclear whether his latest connection to the organization will result in any further actions. Items recovered by the police during the search of the vehicle included illegally possessed firearms and more military technology, marijuana, and opiate pills, per a press release. Playing days of the Montenegrin center featured 271 NBA games with the Minnesota Timberwolves between 2010 and 2016. From 2005 to 2011, he also made his way to 98 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games, including a championship campaign with Panathinaikos in 2009. Following a decorated junior career with Serbia and Montenegro, his jump to the senior level was highlighted by representing Montenegro in the EuroBasket 2011.
Nikola Mirotic opened up about his international career with Spain, specifying his relationship with the country. “I never felt like a Spanish guy,” the 33-year-old power forward of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague mentioned in a preview of an interview with SKWEEK to be released on Wednesday, “I am a Montenegrin and Serbian orthodox guy even though I played with Spain. But I did feel Spain as my second home. Because Spain was very good. Spain gave me that opportunity. I am always going to be thankful to Spain.”
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Nikola Vucevic to lose Montenegrin citizenship?
Nikola Vucevic has represented the Montenegrin national team in five major international tournaments, he also played in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this past summer. He is in danger of never getting the chance to do it again. The US Immigration and Customs Services officially announced that the Chicago Bulls center has become a US citizen. As such, his Montenegrin citizenship might be revoked, Vijesti reports.
Montenegro's Ministry of Interior said in a written reply to Vijesti that Vucevic will not be exempt from the rules. "For all persons who are found to have voluntarily acquired, in addition to Montenegrin citizenship, the citizenship of another country after June 3, 2006, pursuant to Article 24 Paragraph 4 of the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, the Ministry of Justice will ex officio initiate the procedure for the loss of Montenegrin citizenship," the reply reads.
After earning experience in the first Lithuanian league, Alex Antetokounmpo will continue playing overseas, moving to the ABA League 2 by joining KK Podgorica Bemax. As the Montenegrin club officially announced, the youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers, who are following the steps of older siblings Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas, will try to help the side make the jump to the first division in the ABA League, eventually facing Partizan or Crvena Zvezda in the future.
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Losing badly to the Greek national team over a 29-point defeat, Montenegro managed to bounce back in the Acropolis Tournament by welcoming the Bahamas to Europe with a 93-80 victory. Nikola Vucevic and Marko Simonovic were crucial for the Montenegrin side, dominating at the rim against the Caribbean national team, with Kendrick Perry helping from the control room. Chicago’s center had yet again another double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while the newest Bahcesehir player led the team in scoring with 20 points. Unicaja Malaga’s point guard, instead, followed with a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists.
The Bahamas couldn’t avoid Montenegro’s comeback in the third quarter, especially with DeAndre Ayton resting for the whole second half. He finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds, and the whole scene was taken by Franco Miller Jr., the scoring leader with 20 points.
Former Mavericks player McKinley Wright re-signed with Montenegrin team KK Buducnost for the 2024-25 season.
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