Dusan Alimpijevic, the head coach of Serbia's national basketball team, voiced strong criticisms about the FIBA windows system following his team's recent 94-86 defeat to Turkey. This match marked Serbia's second loss in four games during the qualifying rounds, leaving them with just two victories. In his remarks at the post-match press conference, Alimpijevic characterized the situation as 'absurd' and highlighted the challenge of assembling a competitive squad under the current regulations. He argued that the rules disproportionately favor teams like Turkey, who can easily gather their best players who are based domestically.

Alimpijevic lamented that the FIBA system hampers the ability of teams like Serbia to field their best players, as many Serbian athletes compete internationally. He suggested that a fairer approach would be to either prohibit all players from traveling or to provide equal opportunities for all players to play during these windows. His comments have ignited a discussion about the broader implications of such regulations on the competitive landscape of international basketball, particularly regarding team preparation and performance.

This incident highlights ongoing frustrations among coaches and players in international basketball concerning the structure of qualifying tournaments. Alimpijevic's candid assessment underlines a growing demand for reform within FIBA to ensure a more equitable system that does not disadvantage any national team based on their players' club affiliations or geographical locations.