Basketball in Slovenia
The Slovenia national basketball team has qualified for 13 Eurobaskets, including the gold medal in 2017 and a fourth-place finish in 2009, and three FIBA World Cups, in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Notable Slovenian basketball players include Goran Dragić, Zoran Dragić, Luka Dončić, Sasha Vujačić, Radoslav Nesterović, Vlatko Čančar, Beno Udrih, Matjaž Smodiš, Marko Milič, Ivo Daneu, Peter Vilfan, Vinko Jelovac, Aljoša Žorga, Primož Brezec, Boštjan Nachbar, Sani Bečirović and Jaka Lakovič.[2] In 1921, Ciril Hočevar, a physical education teacher and member of the Sokol Maribor society, brought his basketball knowledge to the country.After the war, basketball was promoted mostly by students who came from the Belgrade Sports Institute and new clubs were soon founded in Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Celje and Lendava.In 1950 Mirko Amon (Železničar), best scorer of Yugoslav League that season, became the first Slovenian player in Yugoslavia national basketball team, later to be followed by many others.Slovenian players with most appearances for the national team were Ivo Daneu, Peter Vilfan, Jure Zdovc, Boris Kristančič and Aljoša Žorga.