View source for Branislav Prelević

{{short description|Serbian basketball player and coach}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name            = Bane Prelević
| image           = 
| image_size      = 
| caption         = 
| position        = 
| league          = 
| team            = 
| height_ft       = 6
| height_in       = 4.5
| weight_lb       = 220
| nationality     = Serbian / Greek
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1966|12|19|df=y}}
| birth_place     = [[Belgrade]], [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|SR Serbia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| high_school     =
| college         =
| draft_year      = 1988
| career_start    = 1986
| career_end      = 2000
| coach_start   = 2001
| coach_end     = 2008
| career_position = [[Shooting guard]]
| career_number   = 7, 8
| years1          = 1986–1988
| team1           = [[KK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]]
| years2          = 1988–1996
| team2           = [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]]
| years3          = 1996–1997
| team3           = [[Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna|Kinder Bologna]]
| years4          = 1997–1999
| team4           = [[AEK B.C.|AEK]]
| years5          = 1999–2000
| team5           = PAOK
| cyears1         = 2001–2002 
| cteam1          = [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]] (assistant)
| cyears2         = 2002–2005 
| cteam2          = PAOK
| cyears3         = 2007–2008
| cteam3          = [[Ionikos Lamias B.C.|Ionikos Lamias]]
| highlights      =
'''As player'''
*[[FIBA Saporta Cup]] champion (1991)
*[[FIBA Saporta Cup Top Scorer]] (1992)
*3× [[FIBA Saporta Cup Finals Top Scorer]] (1991, 1992, 1996)
*[[FIBA Korać Cup]] champion (1994)
*[[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion (1992)
*[[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] winner (1995)
*[[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup Finals MVP]] (1995) 
*[[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup Top Scorer]] (1995)
*No. 7 retired by [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]]
*3× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star]] (1991, 1994 II, 1996 I)
*[[Italian Basketball Cup|Italian Cup]] winner (1997)
*[[Italian Basketball Cup|Italian Cup MVP]] (1997)
| medal_templates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|YUG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|FIBA Europe U16 Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1983 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|1983 West Germany]]|[[Yugoslavia men's national under-16 basketball team|Under-16]]}}
}}
'''Branislav Prelević''' or '''Mpranislav Prelevits''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Бранислав Прелевић}}, {{langx|el|Μπράνισλαβ Πρέλεβιτς}}; born 19 December 1966) is a retired Serbian professional [[basketball]] player and coach. He is commonly referred to by his nickname '''Bane''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Бане}}, {{langx|el|Μπάνε}}).

==Personal information==
Prelević was born to [[Serbs|ethnic Serb]] parents in [[Belgrade]], [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|SR Serbia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. He holds both Serbian and Greek citizenship.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=291&roundID=2304&compID={89EB60F8-7F8F-4FFB-9427-6103055F3511}&season=1983 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (Greece) Nationality: GRE.]</ref> His family originated from the [[Bjelopavlići]] clan. His maternal great grandfather was born in [[Eratyra]] and he had the surname Alvanos.<ref>[https://sierafm.gr/%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%AD%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%81%CE%B1-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%8C%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%84%CF%85/ Στη γενέτειρα των προγόνων του, Εράτυρα, ο Μπάνε Πρέλεβιτς]</ref>

He is married to Nevena Prelević-Marjanović (born 26 April 1967, daughter of legendary Yugoslavian and Serbian pop singer [[Đorđe Marjanović]]), and he has two children, named [[Anna Prelević|Anna]] and Tea. Anna was elected [[Miss Greece]] in 2010, and she represented Greece at [[Miss Universe 2010]].

==Professional playing career==
===Red Star Belgrade===
Prelević started his career with [[KK Crvena zvezda|Crvena zvezda]] (Red Star Belgrade).

===PAOK Thessaloniki===
In 1988, at age 21, Prelević moved to Greece in order to be able to play for [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK Thessaloniki]], where he spent eight seasons.

Then 21-year-old Prelević debuted in the 1988–89 season. He became the definitive leader and a fan favorite, often compared to the great [[Nikos Galis]], who was at the time the [[captain (sports)|captain]] of [[Aris B.C.|Aris]]. Prelević was often quoted for his loyalty to the team. He had a number of injuries and medical emergencies because of weak legs, but he would constantly choose to take heavy dosages of painkillers, rather than missing out on any important games.

While playing with [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]], Prelević won the [[FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup]], when PAOK defeated [[CB Zaragoza|CAI Zaragoza]] in [[Geneva]], by a score of 76–72 on 26 March 1991.

The next season, Prelević was again the leader of [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]], and the team reached the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup final again, but they lost to [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]], by a score of 63–65.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.compID_GSf9wrCdHBkDZZk9UQoqE3.roundID_2542.season_1992.teamID_1003.playerID_2647.html FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref> In the same season, PAOK won the [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] championship, beating out [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]].

Prelević participated in the [[EuroLeague]] for the first time, in the 1992–93 season, and managed to reach the Athens [[1993 EuroLeague Final Four]]. PAOK lost in the semifinal game to [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]], which was led by superstar [[Toni Kukoč]], by a score of 77–79.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2564&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1993 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref>

In 1994, Prelević and PAOK returned to European-wide success by winning the [[FIBA Korać Cup]] two-leg final against [[Pallacanestro Trieste|Stefanel Trieste]], winning both at home and away by 9 points.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2549&compID={5B6A5DA2-8C1B-462C-B971-E9EE89F1C6EC}&season=1994 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref> The following year, PAOK won the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]], in a 19-point victory against [[Panionios B.C.|Panionios]], by a score of 72–53. In 1996, he was a [[FIBA Saporta Cup|FIBA European Cup]] finalist.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2546&compID={41CA49EB-5327-44BB-8D8E-3B8979ACB43B}&season=1996 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref>

===Virtus Bologna===
In 1996, Prelević moved to Italy to play with [[Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna|Virtus Bologna]] (called Kinder Bologna at the time for sponsorship reasons).<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1315&roundID=2568&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1997 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref>

===AEK Athens===
In 1997, Prelević returned to Greece and played with [[AEK B.C.|AEK Athens]]. Prelević reached the [[EuroLeague]] [[1998 EuroLeague Final Four|Final Four in Barcelona in 1998]], where his team beat [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]] in the semis, by a score of 69–66, before losing in the final to [[Kinder Bologna]], by a score of 44–58.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1342&roundID=2569&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1998 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref> In 1998 and 1999, Prelević was a [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] finalist.

===Return to PAOK Thessaloniki===
In 1999, Prelević returned to [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]], and he then quit playing professional basketball at the end of the season.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2571&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=2000 FIBAEurope.com Branislav Prelevits (PAOK THESSALONIKI BC).]</ref>

==National team career==
In 1983, Prelević was part of the [[Yugoslavia men's national under-16 basketball team|Yugoslavia Under-16 national team]] that won the gold medal at the [[1983 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship]] in Germany. That team included, alongside Prelević, players such as [[Žarko Paspalj]], [[Jure Zdovc]], [[Luka Pavićević]], [[Ivo Nakić]], and [[Miroslav Pecarski]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120804205834/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/2304/tid/390/_/1983_European_Championship_for_Cadets/index.html FIBA.com Yugoslavia 1983 European Championship For Cadets.]</ref> He was selected to compete [[FR Yugoslavia national basketball team|FR Yugoslavia national team]] at the [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympic Tournament]], but Yugoslavia's participation eventually suspended due to the [[Yugoslav War]].

==Post-playing career==
Prelević later returned to [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]] in the 2001&ndash;02 season, as an assistant [[basketball coach]]. He was then the [[head coach]] of PAOK, from 2002 to 2005. He then went on to become the President of the club, from 2011 until 2019.

==Honors and awards==
*[[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]]: 
**[[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Champion: (1992)
**[[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Winner: (1995)
**3× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star]]: (1991, 1994 II, 1996 I)
**[[FIBA Saporta Cup]] (European Cup Winners' Cup) Champion: (1991)
**[[FIBA Saporta Cup Top Scorer]]: (1992)
**3× [[FIBA Saporta Cup Finals Top Scorer]]: (1991, 1992, 1996)
**[[FIBA Korać Cup]] Champion: (1994)
*[[Virtus Bologna]]:
**[[Italian Basketball Cup|Italian Cup]] Winner: (1997)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.playerID_2647.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_2000.roundID_2571.teamID_1003.html FIBA EuroLeague Profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212046/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/branislav%20prelevic/pid//_//players.html FIBA Profile]
*[http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=291&roundID=2304&compID={89EB60F8-7F8F-4FFB-9427-6103055F3511}&season=1983 FIBA Europe Profile]
*[http://www.eurobasket.com/coach.asp?Cntry=GRE&CoachID=4679 Eurobasket.com Profile]

{{navboxes|list=
{{Italian Basketball Cup MVP}}
{{PAOK B.C. 1990–91 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup champions}}
{{PAOK B.C. 1993–94 FIBA Korać Cup champions}}
{{Greek Basketball Cup MVPs}}
{{Greek Basket League Hall of Fame}}
{{FIBA Saporta Cup Finals Top Scorer}}
{{FIBA Saporta Cup Top Scorers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prelevic, Branislav}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:AEK B.C. players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Belgrade]]
[[Category:Basketball players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:Greek basketball chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Greek basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Greek basketball executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Greek Basket League players]]
[[Category:Greek men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Greek people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate basketball people in Serbia]]
[[Category:KK Crvena zvezda players]]
[[Category:P.A.O.K. BC coaches]]
[[Category:P.A.O.K. BC players]]
[[Category:Serbian basketball executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Greece]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Italy]]
[[Category:Serbian men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Serbian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Serbian people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Virtus Bologna players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav men's basketball players]]
[[Category:20th-century Greek sportsmen]]