ABA Liga selects the ideal five of the 2013/14 season

The final results are determined by combining the votes of fans and the experts (head coaches of ABA League teams), which both contributed 50% of the final result for every playing position. It is interesting that, when we compare the results of voting of both groups, there are similar results to be found (with the only true difference at the top at the positions 4 and 5), which could mean, that also the basketball fans at the ABA League territory could well be considered the experts themselves.

The members of the 2013/14 ABA League ideal five are the following players:

Point guard - DeMarcus Nelson (Crvena zvezda Telekom): The first American in the history of Crvena zvezda Telekom, that has extended the contract with the Belgrade club, has finished second in the voting for the point guard and shooting guard positions with 17,7% of fans' votes and 21,9 votes of the experts. Nelson is has been the driving force of Crvena zvezda Telekom throughout the season at both ends of the court, but especially in defense, since he is taking advantage of his athletic skills well. Many would say, that Zvezda would be a completely different team without him on board and as it turned out, the fans and head coaches apparently agree with that. Nelson has averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game this season in ABA League.

Shooting guard – Bogdan Bogdanović (Partizan NIS): Black and white youngster has finished first in the evoting for the point guard and shooting guard positions with 40% of fans' votes and 43,8% of the votes of the experts, ahead of Nelson and Charles Jenkins (14,3% of fans' votes and 6,25% of experts' votes). This has truly been a breakout season for Bogdan Bogdanović, which has become the main offensive weapon of Duško Vujošević. From one game to another, he is demonstrating a versatile set of offensive skills and is taking good advantage of it. This season in ABA League, he has been averaging 15 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Small forward – Dario Šarić (Cibona): The MVP of the regular season, finished first in the voting for the small forward position with 31,9% of fans' votes and 57% of the votes of the experts, ahead of Tarence Kinsey (26,8% of fans' votes and 9,5% of experts' votes) and Marko Simonović (12,9% of fans' votes and 4,8% of experts' votes). After many changes have occured in Cibona's team during the season, still only 20-year old Šarić has become a true leader of Cibona on and off the court and has taken his team to the Final Four tournament in Belgrade. This season, the Šibenik born player has been averaging 16.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.4 steals per game in the regional competition.

Power forward – Joffrey Lauvergne (Partizan NIS): The French international has finished first in the voting for power forward and center position with 25,3% of fans' votes and 16,7% of votes of the experts. Boban Marjanović and Jusuf Nurkić (13,6% of fans' votes and 27,8% votes of the experts). The first foreign captain of Partizan has thrilled the Belgrade fans with his determination on the court and passion for the black and white jersey. This season he has not only shined in ABA, but also Euroleague, where he became the top rebounder of the competition. In ABA League he has averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season.

Center – Boban Marjanović (Crvena zvezda Telekom): Serbian giant has finished second in the voting for power forward and center position with 19,5% of fans' votes and 22,2% of experts' votes. Marjanović has been a dominant force under the baskets throughout the season not only in ABA League, but also both European competitions, that Zvezda has been participating in. With his unique size of 222 cm and his strenght, it is not surprising, that he practically can't be stopped when he receives a pass under the basket in the offense. On the other side – when he is protecting the basket, you don't want to get anywhere near the paint in order not to be blocked. This season, with a limited playing time of less than 19 minutes, he was averaging 9.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in ABA League.