The Croatia–Serbia basketball rivalry is a competitive sports rivalry that exists between the national basketball teams of the two countries and their respective sets of fans.

History

The big rivalry in basketball started at the FIBA European Championship in 1995, in Athens. At the time, Croatia was a newly independent state, while Serbia was a federal unit of FR Yugoslavia. Both countries did well in the tournament, with Yugoslavia ranking first. The third-place Croatian team caused an international scandal when they walked off the medal stand and out of the arena just before Serbs and Montenegrins were about to receive their gold medals. Curiously, there hasn't been a single direct game involving the two countries over the course of the championship.

Croatia and Yugoslavia did face each other in a game at EuroBasket 1997. Four seconds before the end of the tense game, Croatian team was leading by two points when Serbian guard Aleksandar Đorđević took the ball and made a three-pointer, winning the game for Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia went on to win the championship, while Croatia ended up ranking 11th overall.

Afterward, at EuroBasket 2001, Croats were heavily beaten by 80–66.

Serbia defeated Croatia, 86–83, in the last quarterfinal of the Olympic Basketball Tournament on 17 August 2016 to set up a semifinal clash with Australia. On 19 August, Serbia cruised to a resounding 87–61 win over Australia. Serbia won the silver medal following a 96–66 lost to the United States in the final, while Croatia finished at 5th place.

Head-to-head EuroBasket 1997

CRO Statistics YUG 13/39 (33%) 2-pt field goals 16/36 (44%) 4/10 (40%) 3-pt field goals 4/11 (36%) 24/27 (89%) Free throws 20/33 (61%) 6 Offensive rebounds 8 20 Defensive rebounds 19 26 Total rebounds 27 11 Assists 9 10 Turnovers 10 9 Steals 9 0 Blocks 0 30 Fouls 25

2000 Trofeo Lido delle Rose in Roseto, Italy

Croatia Roster: Damir Mulaomerović (26), Vladimir Krstić (0), Josip Sesar (15), Davor Kus (dnp), Slaven Rimac (11), Matej Mamić (5), Jurica Ružić (2), Sandro Nicević (2), Mate Skelin (dnp), Nikola Vujčić (6), Žan Tabak (2) Starters: Mulaomerović, Sesar, Mamić, Nicević, Tabak Head coach: Aleksandar Petrović

Yugoslavia Roster: Dejan Bodiroga (20), Predrag Danilović (13), Saša Obradović (2), Nikola Lončar (0), Marko Jarić (0), Igor Rakočević (7), Dragan Lukovski (7), Željko Rebrača (10), Dragan Tarlać (6), Dejan Milojević (0), Dejan Tomašević (13), Milan Gurović (2) Starters: Danilović, Obradović, Lončar, Tomašević, Rebrača Head coach: Željko Obradović

Number in parentheses indicates points scored in the game.

EuroBasket 2001

CRO Statistics YUG 22/41 (54%) 2-pt field goals 26/55 (47%) 4/17 (24%) 3-pt field goals 5/20 (25%) 10/13 (77%) Free throws 12/21 (62%) 6 Offensive rebounds 12 24 Defensive rebounds 24 30 Total rebounds 26 10 Assists 9 7 Turnovers 3 1 Steals 9 3 Blocks 2 12 Fouls 18

2005 ProMonte Supercup in Podgorica

Serbia and Montenegro Roster: Dejan Bodiroga (11), Aleksandar Pavlović (4), Vule Avdalović (0), Vladimir Radmanović (2), Igor Rakočević (12), Vlado Šćepanović (2), Marko Jarić (9), Bojan Popović (dnp), Nenad Krstić (16), Dejan Milojević (11), Darko Miličić (3), Milan Gurović (4) Starters: Avdalović, Pavlović, Gurović, Milojević, Krstić Head coach: Željko Obradović

Croatia Roster: Roko Ukić (9), Marino Baždarić (0), Marko Popović (0), Nikola Vujčić (1), Nikola Prkačin (0), Andrija Žižić (5), Gordan Giriček (20), Zoran Planinić (8), Marko Tomas (8), Matej Mamić (0), Dalibor Bagarić (0), Mario Kasun (9) Starters: Planinić, Giriček, Mamić, Vujčić, Bagarić Head coach: Neven Spahija

Number in parentheses indicates points scored in the game.

2007 Trofeo Diego Gianatti in Bormio, Italy

Croatia Roster: Roko Ukić (0), Davor Kus (11), Marko Popović (13), Marino Baždarić (0), Nikola Prkačin (7), Marko Tomas (6), Zoran Planinić (7), Mario Stojić (dnp), Damir Markota (0), Marko Banić (9), Mario Kasun (16), Stanko Barać (10), Marin Rozić (5), Jure Lalić (0) Starters: N/A Head coach: Jasmin Repeša

Serbia Roster: Miloš Teodosić (2), Branko Cvetković (4), Vuk Radivojević (0), Zoran Erceg (16), Dragan Labović (11), Mile Ilić (0), Marko Jarić (9), Darko Miličić (11), Nemanja Aleksandrov (0), Aleksandar Rašić (0), Milenko Tepić (2), Milan Gurović (21), Stefan Marković (0), Nenad Mišanović (0), Novica Veličković (0) Starters: Jarić, Radivojević, Cvetković, Erceg, Miličić Head coach: Zoran Slavnić

Number in parentheses indicates points scored in the game.

2010 FIBA World Championship

The first eighth-final round match-up pitted two former Yugoslav republics against each other as Group A winner Serbia met Group B fourth-place finisher Croatia, the first meeting for the teams in a major international tournament. Serbia prevailed 73–72 in a back-and-forth battle that neither team led by more than eight points at any point during the game. Milan Mačvan, Serbia's youngest player at age 20, drained a three-pointer to extend Serbia's lead to 64–57 with 4:24 remaining before Croatia began a late comeback to pull within one at 68–67 with 24 seconds left in the game. Aleksandar Rašić hit two free throws to extend the lead to three with 21 seconds left before Croatia's Marko Popović answered with two free throws of his own with 15 seconds left. Marko Tomas then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and dished to Popović, who was fouled with 11 seconds left. Popović made only one of two free throws to tie the game at 70 and set up a dramatic finish.

Serbia freed Rašić with a screen on the ensuing inbounds pass and he made an uncontested layup with nine seconds left. Popović was then fouled with 5.9 seconds left, and hit both free throws to tie the game at 72. Serbia inbounded the ball to Rašić, who drove downcourt and was fouled by Croatia's Davor Kus while attempting an off-balance shot with one second left. Rašić made the first and missed the second free throw to give Serbia a one-point victory. Rašić ended up with 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter and five in the final 21 seconds. Croatia's Popović led all scorers with 21 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Nenad Krstić scored a team-high 16 points for Serbia.

SER Statistics CRO 20/38 (53%) 2-pt field goals 21/38 (55%) 5/15 (33%) 3-pt field goals 5/24 (21%) 18/25 (72%) Free throws 15/17 (88%) 7 Offensive rebounds 13 22 Defensive rebounds 23 29 Total rebounds 36 14 Assists 12 12 Turnovers 13 9 Steals 7 0 Blocks 3 14 Fouls 22

2011 Adecco Ex-Yu Cup in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The 2011 game was a part of exhibition tournament for the EuroBasket 2011. Serbia had an 80–71 win over Croatia in the tournament final on 9 August. Croatia led for most of the game, seven minutes before the end of the game it reached the 10 points margin, 67–57, but then played very poorly in the game closure. With a 13–0 run, Serbia took the lead, 67–70, two minutes before the end, and then increased its advantage to the final nine point lead, 71–80, by the end of the game. Croatia was led by forward Bojan Bogdanović with 17 points, while center Nenad Krstić was the most efficient in Serbia with 18 points scored.

CRO Statistics SER 24/47 (51%) 2-pt field goals 22/38 (58%) 3/13 (23%) 3-pt field goals 5/22 (23%) 14/18 (78%) Free throws 21/26 (81%) 9 Offensive rebounds 7 26 Defensive rebounds 19 35 Total rebounds 26 16 Assists 17 16 Turnovers 10 8 Steals 8 2 Blocks 1 27 Fouls 22

2011 London Invitational

Croatia national team was able to successfully open its London Tournament campaign with the initial 83–71 win over rival Serbia. Croatia took the lead just before the end of the first quarter (17–16), led at the half by 44–36 and reached 16-point surplus midway the last quarter before managing to stay on the top. Croatian guard Krunoslav Simon again displayed his excellent shooting stroke while leading the Croatia with 17 points (6–8 from the floor). Croatian center Ante Tomić added 13 points and 9 rebounds.

SER Statistics CRO 19/38 (50%) 2-pt field goals 21/38 (55%) 7/21 (33%) 3-pt field goals 5/24 (21%) 12/24 (50%) Free throws 15/17 (88%) 12 Offensive rebounds 13 19 Defensive rebounds 23 31 Total rebounds 36 11 Assists 12 16 Turnovers 13 3 Steals 7 1 Blocks 3 27 Fouls 22

2012 Adecco Ex-Yu Cup in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The 2012 game was a part of exhibition tournament for the FIBA EuroBasket 2013 qualification in Slovenia. Croatia and Serbia had a very interesting game on the first day of the Adecco Cup on 3 August 2012. Serbia topped Croatia with final score of 90–74 and proved that they getting better form. Guard Miloš Teodosić led Serbia with great performances as he recorded 14 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds. Forward Zoran Erceg added 14 points and Duško Savanović scored 13 points. It was obvious at the game that Serbia is much better team. Serbian coach Dušan Ivković even used last quarter to practice offense and defense combinations.

CRO Statistics SER 19/41 (46%) 2-pt field goals 23/35 (66%) 8/12 (67%) 3-pt field goals 9/28 (32%) 12/17 (71%) Free throws 17/21 (81%) 4 Offensive rebounds 8 23 Defensive rebounds 23 27 Total rebounds 31 14 Assists 21 17 Turnovers 9 2 Steals 1 0 Blocks 0 24 Fouls 23

2013 Spor Toto World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey

On 23 August 2013, Serbia won over Croatia with an 88–71 score, in the first round of the Spor Toto World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. The Dušan Ivković's team was better for the most part of the match. They gained a six-point lead at halftime, the Croats then tried to return to the match, but the Serbian players routinely secured a victory in the last quarter. Success was encouraging for the Serbian team before participating in the EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, and the tournament in Istanbul is the last test before the continental competition. Key players were captain Nenad Krstić with 19, Raško Katić with 18 and Nemanja Bjelica with 14 points, while Marko Tomas in the Croatian team scored 16 points.

CRO Statistics SER 2-pt field goals 3-pt field goals Free throws Offensive rebounds Defensive rebounds Total rebounds Assists Turnovers Steals Blocks Fouls

2014 Tournament in Pau, France

Croatia suffered its second defeat at the exhibition tournament in Pau, France, after losing to Serbia 83–84 in overtime on 9 August 2014. In an equal match three minutes before the end, Croatia led 68–60, but the Serbs made 10–0 run in two minutes and took the lead 70–68. But then Croatian guard Oliver Lafayette scored a three-pointer and two free throws for the lead of the Croats 73–70. However, Serbian forward Marko Simonović scored 20 seconds before the game end and tied at 73–73 and the game went into overtime. In the additional five minutes, Croatia was in the lead, but six seconds before the end, Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanović scored a three-pointer for Serbia's 84–83 lead. In the last run, Croatia tried through forward Bojan Bogdanović, but he missed a three-pointer and Serbia won 84–83 in the end. Serbia took what was offered, and Croatia suffered its defeat. Bojan Bogdanović was the best Croatian scorer with 19 points, and Luka Žorić 13, Damjan Rudež 11, Krunoslav Simon 11, and Oliver Lafayette scored 10 points. The Serbs were led by Marko Simonović with 24 points, Nemanja Bjelica scored 15 points and Miroslav Raduljica with 13 points joined them.

2016 Super4 in Córdoba, Argentina