Marko Guduric walked away from the spotlight of reigning EuroLeague champion Fenerbahçe, but things did not unfold as many expected in Milan. Even so, the Serbian sharpshooter’s decision deserves to be judged over the long term, not after a single season.
Abu Dhabi, May 25, 2025. The EuroLeague Championship Game between Monaco and Fenerbahçe. Everyone is there. All eyes are on the stars. The margin for error is thinner than ever. The pressure is immense, and every second seems to pass painfully slowly. These are the moments when pure talent gives way to clutch shots and leadership qualities, the kind of things statistics struggle to capture.
The game has entered its final five minutes. Fenerbahçe leads by eight. Marko Guduric finds himself isolated against Daniel Theis. Beyond the three-point line, with the shot clock winding down and the Turkish side waiting for a decision from their trusted playmaker. One dribble, another dribble, a drive toward the basket and a pull-up jumper. Nothing but net. Fenerbahçe goes up by 10. Still, nothing is over yet.
Vassilis Spanoulis’ Monaco refuses to surrender. The gap is cut to seven and the game enters its defining stretch. Once again, Guduric faces Theis at the top of the floor. This time, he does not attack the paint. A small step to his left, a three-pointer from well beyond seven meters, and the ball splashes through the net. Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team puts the title game away and climbs to the top of European basketball.
The Serbian guard-forward, who previously spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies, finished the final with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. In 28 minutes and 45 seconds, he committed zero turnovers and shot an outstanding 7-for-10 from the field. At the very moment he seemed destined to be adored in Istanbul for years to come, he packed his bags and headed to Milan to join Olimpia.
It was a decision that raised eyebrows and sparked debate. Why leave a place where you feel completely at home and where your game has reached its highest level? Especially when you are playing under a coach like Jasikevicius, someone who trusts you unconditionally and consistently puts the ball in your hands when it matters most.
But life-changing decisions cannot be evaluated through a purely basketball lens.
Those looking to criticize Guduric will point to the fact that Olimpia Milano failed to even reach the EuroLeague Play-In in 2025-26. They will also note that the Serbian did not produce the spectacular season many expected, averaging 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Yet who can truly judge such a significant decision after only a few months?
Milano entered a period of transition. The club changed coaches and, in many ways, spent the season laying the groundwork for what comes next in 2026-27. That is precisely why Guduric’s decision to move to northern Italy cannot be fairly assessed today.
His talent has never been in question. His leadership qualities have been evident for years. A career three-point percentage hovering around 40% across more than 320 EuroLeague appearances, combined with nearly three assists per game, paints the picture of a complete player. The entire package is there.
Whether the move to Milan was the right one or not is a question that will only be answered with time.
