Marko Simonović (basketball, born 1986)

Simonović began his professional career in 2003 with Lavovi 063 where he stayed for two seasons. In 2005, he then moved to Ergonom. In 2006, he moved the Belgian team Oostende, only being there for half-season. In the summer of 2006, he signed with Serbian team Hemofarm, staying with them until the summer of 2008. He then moved to the Montenegrin team Budućnost Podgorica, staying with them for three full seasons. With them he won three consecutive times the Montenegrin League championship and Montenegrin Cup, from 2009 until 2011.

On 18 July 2011, Simonović signed a contract with German team Alba Berlin.{{cite web |title=Alba Berlin signs Marko Simonovic |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/germany/87436/alba-berlin-signs-marko-simonovic.html |website=sportando.net}} Over the season he averaged 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in the German League. In the summer of 2012, he signed a contract with Crvena zvezda.{{cite web |title=Red Star lands Marko Simonovic |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/cups/adriatic-league/93840/red-star-lands-marko-simonovic.html |website=sportando.net |access-date=22 June 2014}} After club legend Igor Rakočević retired from the professional basketball in 2013, Simonović became next team captain.{{cite web |title=MARKO JE KAPITEN |url=http://www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs/index.php/article/marko-je-kapiten |website=kkcrvenazvezda.rs |access-date=22 June 2014}} In his first season in the EuroLeague, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds.

In August 2014, he signed with the French team Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez.{{cite news |title=Marko Simonovic signs with Pau Orthez |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/131222/marko-simonovic-signs-with-pau-orthez.html |access-date=12 August 2014 |work=Sportando.com}} On 30 September, French Cup game against Orléans Loiret Basket, Simonović made a buzzer beater three pointer to edge Orléans by 72–70.{{cite news |title=Elan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez - La preuve par deux! |url=http://www.elan-bearnais.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3015:la-preuve-par-deux&catid=141:actualite-en-image&Itemid=134 |access-date=30 September 2014 |work=elan-bearnais.fr |language=fr}} He led his team in scoring with 27 points, while also having 9 steals, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.{{cite news |title=Meč karijere Marka Simonovića! |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=09&dd=29&nav_id=905599 |access-date=30 September 2014 |work=b92.net |language=sr}} On 21 April 2015, he had the best game since coming in the club, scoring season-high 31 points in an 89–96 loss to Limoges CSP.{{cite web |title=Limoges Vs. Pau-Lacq-Orthez |url=http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200009/Resultat-match/8989/resultat-match |website=lnb.fr |access-date=17 May 2015 |language=fr}} Pau-Orthez finished the season in the French League in 13th place. Over 26 games played, Simonović averaged 13.4 points, and 3 rebounds on 39.6% shooting from the field. He also scored 20 and more points four times during the season.{{cite news |title=Simonović odličan na oproštaju |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2015&mm=05&dd=17&nav_id=992781 |access-date=17 May 2015 |work=b92.net |date=17 May 2015 |language=sr}}

On 30 September 2015, he signed a short-term contract with Crvena zvezda.{{cite news |title=Simonović se vratio da pomogne |url=http://www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs/simonovic-se-vratio-da-pomogne-30-09-2015.html |access-date=30 September 2015 |work=kkcrvenazvezda.rs |date=30 September 2015 |language=sr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001084452/http://www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs/simonovic-se-vratio-da-pomogne-30-09-2015.html |archive-date=1 October 2015 |url-status=dead}} On 19 November 2015, he re-signed with the club for the rest of the season.{{cite news |title=Simonović Zvezdin do kraja sezone |url=http://www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs/simonovic-zvezdin-do-kraja-sezone-19-11-2015.html |access-date=19 November 2015 |work=kkcrvenazvezda.rs |date=19 November 2015 |language=sr}} On 10 July 2016, he re-signed with the team until the end of 2017–18 season.{{cite news |title=Crvena Zvezda holds on to Simonovic, Dangubic |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/74gjy76v4lbqhqo3 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=euroleague.net |date=10 July 2016}}

On 4 July 2017, Simonović signed with Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg.{{cite news |title=Zenit signs veteran forward Simonovic |url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/7xb5wt33e556eh6b |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707203423/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/7xb5wt33e556eh6b |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2017 |access-date=4 July 2017 |work=Eurocupbasketball.com |date=4 July 2017}} On 14 July 2019, he left the club.{{cite web |title=Simonović napustio Zenit |url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/sport.295.html:806221-Simonovic-napustio-Zenit |website=novosti.rs |access-date=14 July 2019}}

On 18 July 2019, he signed a two-year contract for Slovenian club Cedevita Olimpija.[https://sportando.basketball/en/kk-cedevita-olimpija-officially-announces-marko-simonovic/ KK Cedevita Olimpija officially announces Marko Simonovic.] On 13 July 2020, Simonović signed a two-year deal with former team Crvena zvezda.{{cite news |title=Marko Simonovic returns to Crvena Zvezda |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/marko-simonovic-returns-to-crvena-zvezda/ |website=Sportando |access-date=13 July 2020 |date=13 July 2020 |last1=Borghesan |first1=Ennio Terrasi}} On 15 November 2020, Simonović recorded his 300 apperiences for the Zvezda.{{cite web |title=Marko Simonović je večeras zabeležio 300. utakmicu u dresu Crvene zvezde. Čestitamo @simke12 i želimo mu još mnogo utakmica i trofeja u crveno-belom! |url=https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1328039719469522944 |website=twitter.com |access-date=15 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Jubilej Marka Simonovića u crveno-belom! |url=https://www.sportskacentrala.com/2020/11/15/jubilej-marka-simonovica-u-crveno-belom/ |website=sportskacentrala.com |date=15 November 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020}} He retired as a player with Crvena zvezda in July 2022.

{{see also|2016 Serbia men's Olympic basketball team}}

Simonović was a member of the senior Serbian national basketball team which took silver medal at the 2014 World Cup under head coach Aleksandar Đorđević and after that he was a part of Olympic team that took silver medal at the 19th Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics under the head coach Aleksandar Đorđević.

He also represented Serbia at the EuroBasket 2015.{{cite news |title=AMBITIOUS SERBIA UNVEIL POWERFUL 12-MAN SQUAD |url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_xUMkR0x,HeIT9w-vv9Ob00.articleMode_on.html |access-date=3 September 2015 |work=eurobasket2015.org |date=2 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905064710/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_xUMkR0x,HeIT9w-vv9Ob00.articleMode_on.html |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=usurped}} In the first phase of the tournament, Serbia dominated in the toughest Group B with 5-0 record, and then eliminated Finland and Czech Republic in the round of 16 and quarterfinal game, respectively. However, they were stopped in the semifinal game by Lithuania with 67–64,{{cite news |title=LITHUANIA END SERBIAN STREAK, RETURN TO FINAL |url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/gameID_11664-76-A-1.html |access-date=20 September 2015 |work=eurobasket2015.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919004022/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/gameID_11664-76-A-1.html |archive-date=19 September 2015 |url-status=usurped}} and eventually lost to the host team France in the bronze-medal game with 81–68.{{cite news |title=FRANCE REWARD HOME SUPPORT WITH BRONZE |url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_XCBBt0,vHwcDLI3DN0sTU1.articleMode_on.html |access-date=20 September 2015 |work=eurobasket2015.org |date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922234352/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_XCBBt0,vHwcDLI3DN0sTU1.articleMode_on.html |archive-date=22 September 2015 |url-status=usurped}} Simonović was mostly used as a three-point and defensive task specialist; he averaged 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game on 30.8% shooting from the three-point line.{{cite web |title=Player profile: Marko Simonovic |url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_96799.playerID_44960.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905030040/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_96799.playerID_44960.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 September 2015 |website=eurobasket2015.org |publisher=FIBA Europe |access-date=20 September 2015}}

Simonović also represented Serbia at the 2016 Summer Olympics where they won the silver medal, after losing to the United States in the final game with 96–66.{{cite news |title=Rio Olympics 2016: USA beat Serbia in men's basketball to win last gold of Games |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36727948 |access-date=18 September 2017 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2016}}

At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the national team of Serbia was dubbed as favorite to win the trophy,{{cite news |last1=Curkovic |first1=Igor |title=FIBA Basketball World Cup Power Rankings, Volume 3 |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-power-rankings-volume-3 |access-date=14 September 2019 |work=fiba.basketball |date=28 August 2019}} but was eventually upset in the quarterfinals by Argentina.{{cite news |title=Argentina upsets Olympic silver medalist Serbia in FIBA World Cup quarterfinals |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/09/10/argentina-serbia-fiba-world-cup/ |access-date=14 September 2019 |work=nbcsports.com |date=10 September 2019}} With wins over the United States and Czech Republic, it finished in fifth place.{{cite news |title=Serbia defeats USA in FIBA World Cup consolation round play |url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/09/12/fiba-world-cup-usa-serbia-game-recap |access-date=14 September 2019 |work=nba.com |date=12 September 2019}}{{cite news |last1=T. |first1=P. |title=Bogdanović ponovo briljirao – Srbiji peto mesto u Kini |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kina2019/vesti.php?nav_id=1591176 |access-date=14 September 2019 |date=14 September 2019 |language=sr}} Simonović averaged 3 points and 1.6 rebounds over 7 tournament games. In September 2019, Simonović announced his retirement from the national team.{{cite news |title=Marko Simonović se oprostio od reprezentacije! |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=09&dd=27&nav_id=1596774 |access-date=28 September 2019 |work=b92.net |date=27 September 2019 |language=sr}}

However, in February 2020, Simonović was invited by new head coach Igor Kokoškov to join the national team during EuroBasket 2021 qualification matches against Finland and Georgia.

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3| Crvena zvezda

| 10 || 1 || 19.4 || .395 || .375 || .667 || 2.9 || .6 || .8 || .2 || 4.8 || 5.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| 27 || 6 || 19.9 || .457 || .421 || .783 || 1.9 || .3 || .5 || .1 || 7.4 || 5.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| 30 || 3 || 26.7 || .548 || .390 || .824 || 3.6 || .7 || .8 || .1 || 12.6 || 11.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career

| 67 || 10 || 22.9 || .457 || .400 || .810 || 2.8 || .5 || .7 || .1 || 9.4 || 8.5

{{S-end}}

Following his retirement as a player, Crvena zvezda hired Simonović as their new assistant coach and a staff member of Vladimir Jovanović.{{cite web |title=Vlada Jovanović novi trener Crvene zvezde! |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=07&dd=08&nav_id=2182476 |website=b92.net |access-date=8 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Zvanično: Vladimir Jovanović novi trener Crvene zvezde |url=https://mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/zvanicno-vladimir-jovanovic-novi-trener-crvene-zvezde/424699 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=8 July 2022}} On 19 November 2022, the club parted ways with his following the Jovanović departure.{{cite web |title=Zvezda raspustila stručni štab |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=11&dd=19&nav_id=2245164 |website=b92.net |access-date=22 November 2022}}

On 18 December 2023, SPD Radnički hired Simonović as their new head coach.

On 21 June 2014, Crvena zvezda team captain Simonović was part of a bizarre incident following the Serbian League playoffs final game 4, a hard-fought overtime contest that saw Partizan defeat arch-rivals Red Star Belgrade for a 13th consecutive league title.

The home-court loss came as a bitter pill to the Red Star team, considered by significant sections of the Serbian media and fans as title favorites capable of finally ending Partizan's 12-year domestic league domination.{{cite web |title=SL: Počinje finalna serija - Partizan brani, Zvezda "napada" titulu |url=http://www.sportal.rs/news.php?id=127426 |website=sportal.rs |access-date=22 June 2014 |language=sr}} However, Partizan, already up 2-1 in the best-of-five series, led by Bogdan Bogdanović's 36 point performance, managed a memorable overtime away win for its 13th consecutive Serbian title.{{cite web |title=Ništa novo, Partizan je šampion! |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=21&nav_id=865626 |website=b92.net |access-date=22 June 2014 |language=sr}}

Disappointed and embittered over yet another failure to win the Serbian League, members of the Red Star ultra fan group, Delije, decided to disrupt the championship trophy presentation by storming the court, grabbing the displayed trophy, and taking it back with them into the stands among a crowd of fellow ultra fans. Simonović was soon seen entering the said crowd of Red Star fans by climbing into the stands where he proceeded to lift up the seized trophy, an act met with loud approval from the gathered fans who immediately erupted into cheers and fan songs.{{cite web |title=Navijači Zvezde ukrali pehar! |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=21&nav_id=865708 |website=b92.net |access-date=22 June 2014 |language=sr}} Many others in the arena expressed visible disapproval, among them seemingly even some Red Star players who turned away and began walking off the court.{{cite web |title=Otkud Simonoviću pehar!? |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=22&nav_id=865881 |website=b92.net |access-date=22 June 2014 |language=sr}}{{cite web |author=Xavi Maestro |title=Marko Simonovic sa navijacima podize " ukradeni " pehar KLS. [Video] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9NxmSwWD8E |website=youtube.com |access-date=22 June 2014}}

Since the trophy was physically damaged in the process, the championship trophy ceremony was eventually held with a smaller replica trophy presented to Partizan players and staff. Simonović later denied trying to offend anyone with his actions, claiming he entered the stands after being asked by the game's delegate to do so and try to return the trophy on the court.{{cite news |title="Nisam želeo nikoga da uvredim" |url=http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=22&nav_id=865919 |access-date=30 September 2014 |work=b92.net |language=sr}}

• List of Olympic medalists in basketball
• List of KK Crvena zvezda players with 100 games played

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Marko Simonović}}

• [http://www.aba-liga.com/player.php?id=846 Marko Simonović] at aba-liga.com
• [http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200006/Joueurs/A29956/Simonovic-Marko Marko Simonović] at lnb.fr
• [http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Marko_Simonovic/Elan_Bearnais_Pau-Lacq-Orthez/38678 Marko Simonović] at eurobasket.com
• [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=LRU Marko Simonović] at euroleague.net
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160827001517/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/lid_38135_cp/1/pid/44960/q/MARKO%20SIMONOVIC/rpp//_//players.html Marko Simonović] at fiba.com
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Olympics.com|marko-simonovic}}
• {{OKS profile|marko-simonovic|old_id=1265}}

{{Navboxes|list1=

{{s-start}}

{{S-sports}}

{{succession box

| before= Igor Rakočević

| after= Luka Mitrović

| title= Crvena zvezda captain

| years= 2013–2014

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Serbia Squad 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup}}

{{Serbia Men Basketball Squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}

{{Crvena zvezda 2021–22 ABA League Champions}}

{{Crvena zvezda 2020–21 ABA League Champions}}

{{Crvena zvezda 2016–17 ABA League Champions}}

{{Crvena zvezda 2015–16 ABA League Champions}}

{{Pristina}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simonovic, Marko}}

Category:1986 births

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