Jaka Lakovič


Jaka Lakovič is a Slovenian professional basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as a head coach for ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroCup, as well as an assistant coach of the Slovenia national team.
Standing at, and weighing 95 kg, he played at the point guard position. He was an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2005, and he helped lead the senior Slovenia national team to the fourth place finish at 2009 EuroBasket.

Playing career

In his pro career, Lakovič played with the following clubs: Geoplin Slovan and Krka of the Slovenian League, Panathinaikos of the Greek League, Barcelona of the Spanish League, Galatasaray of the Turkish League, and Avellino of the Italian League.
His brilliant performances during the 2004–05 EuroLeague season, wearing the Panathinaikos jersey, earned him an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection, as he reached the EuroLeague Final Four. In 2005, he was also named the MVP of the Greek Cup, and the MVP of the Greek League. He won the EuroLeague championship in 2010, while a member of Barcelona.
In July 2011, he signed a two-year contract with Galatasaray. In January 2013, he signed with Sidigas Avellino, until the end of the season. In September 2013, he extended his contract with Avellino, for one more season.
In December 2014, he signed with Royal Halı Gaziantep for the 2014–15 season.
In September 2015, he signed with the Barcelona Lassa's reserve team. He also announced that would be his last year as professional basketball player, before he would begin to start coaching in the youth teams of Barcelona.
On 27 July 2016, Lakovič announced his retirement from playing professional basketball.

National team career

Lakovič competed for the senior Slovenian men's national team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, the 2010 FIBA World Championship, and also at 7 straight EuroBaskets; 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Coaching career

Lakovič began his basketball coaching career in 2016, becoming an assistant coach for the senior Slovenian men's national team, working under the team's head coach, Igor Kokoškov, and started coaching at the EuroBasket 2017 qualification tournament.
On 7 August 2017, Lakovič signed with the Spanish ACB League club Bilbao Basket as an assistant coach. On 30 April 2018, following the departure of Veljko Mršić, he took over the club as the head coach.
In June 2019, he was announced as the new head coach of the German Basketball Bundesliga club ratiopharm Ulm.

EuroLeague career statistics

†Denotes seasons in which Lakovič's team won the EuroLeague

Career awards and achievements

Panathinaikos