Celebrated basketball player Vasilije Micić was the special guest of the “Path of a Champion” panel organized by the Novak Djokovic Foundation, held for the second time this year as part of the Vivaldi Summer Forum. The panel was curated by Ana Jovanović, former Fed Cup player and the program’s author.
In collaboration with the prestigious Vivaldi Forum – organized by the Mokra Gora School of Management and running successfully for 15 years – the Novak Djokovic Foundation hosted its “Path of a Champion” panel for the second time in 2025. This time, the guest was renowned Serbian basketball player Vasilije Micić, a multiple-time medalist in both junior and senior categories at World and European Championships, as well as on Olympic Games, and EuroLeague MVP.
The “Path of a Champion” program was launched five years ago to promote a love for sports among children, highlight the importance of physical activity for healthy development, and emphasize the roles of parents and coaches in shaping children into healthy, well-rounded individuals. The program’s author, Ana Jovanović, moderated the discussion with Micić.
For Micić, family is the central pillar in both personal growth and sporting success:
“The foundation of happiness, fulfillment, and every condition for success lies in the family. My parents’ approach to my interests – without imposing conditions, labels, or pressure, but with love and unconditional support – helped me become who I am today. Even though they were ambitious, they kept it in check, allowing me to explore other interests alongside basketball. I was an excellent student and also attended music school. Because of that, one of my biggest life goals is to be a good parent. I haven’t become a father yet due to my professional obligations, but I intend to fully dedicate myself to that role. Parenthood is deeply personal. I don’t want to judge anyone else’s parenting, I just want to be the best possible father to my future children.”
For the EuroLeague star and NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, the mental aspect is crucial to achieving high performance:
“We live in a world full of distractions, which is why I work hard on achieving inner peace. My goal is to let actions speak louder than words. I believe the best investment you can make toward success is continuous work on mental stability, supported by top experts. Sacrifice is a normal and essential part of that process. I’ve always trained a lot – fanatically, even – because I enjoy it. I listen to my body, follow my instincts, and treat every moment of work with full dedication. That’s the formula I’ve followed all these years.”
When it comes to sharing career experiences, Micić emphasized learning and authenticity:
“What drives me in both sports and life is a deep love and desire for learning – from experts, life examples, and personal experience. I’ve never liked preaching to others – it feels arrogant. I don’t give advice unless someone asks. I enjoy exchanging opinions in spontaneous settings. While I respect all views, the decisions I make are ultimately my own. Standing by your beliefs and words is difficult, which is why building inner resilience is so important – staying true to yourself without getting lost in ‘bigger’ goals.”
Consistent personal development leads to integrity, self-respect, and stability, which Micić summarized by saying:
“An athlete’s career includes both highs and lows, and you have to face them consciously – even when there are no immediate threats. That’s why I believe in constantly working on yourself, broadening your education, and being mindful about how you respond to challenges and trauma – rather than waiting for them to happen. The people I surround myself with are extremely important to me; I share values with them and live by those values. I despise the stereotype that athletes are unintelligent. I haven’t read what the media writes about me in the last 10 years, whether good or bad. What matters to me is inner peace, staying dedicated to the right people and values, and constantly nurturing my relationship with my family,” Micić concluded in his conversation with Ana Jovanović.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation’s Path of Champions program will continue in 2025, welcoming new exceptional speakers and experts from fields such as sports psychology, medicine, nutrition, and other sports-related disciplines from Serbia and abroad.
