KK FMP (1991–2011)

Košarkaški klub FMP (Serbian Cyrillic: Кошаркашки клуб ФMП), commonly referred to as KK FMP, was a men's professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. The club played its home games at the 3,000 capacity Železnik Hall and have won the regional ABA League twice, in the 2003–04 and 2005–06 seasons.

This article is about the team that played as FMP from 1991 to 2011. For the FMP team that began play in 2013, see KK FMP.
FMP
NicknamePanteri (Panthers)
Founded1975 (1975)
Dissolved2015 (2015)
HistoryKK ILR
1975–1986
Dissolved: 1986–1991
KK FMP
1991–2003
KK Reflex
2003–2005
KK FMP
2005–2011
KK Crvena zvezda
2011–2015
KK ILR Železnik
2015
ArenaŽeleznik Hall
Capacity3,000
LocationBelgrade, Serbia
Team colorsRed and White
   
Championships2 ABA League
4 National Cups
Retired numbers7 (4, 4, 5, 10, 12, 14, 20)

In 2011, the club started cooperating with KK Crvena zvezda and competed under their name until 2015. In 2015, the club disbanded its senior team and changed the name to KK ILR Železnik.[1][2] In 2013, KK Radnički Basket adopted the name and the logo of KK FMP, and renamed to KK FMP.

History

Foundation, early years and financial problems

The club was established under the name KK ILR Železnik in 1975 on the joint initiative of the Ivo Lola Ribar Machine Factory and the Železnik local community administrative board.[3] Initially, the club was part of the Ivo Lola Ribar Sports Society, which, in addition to basketball, also fielded teams in football, handball, volleyball, boxing, bowling, archery, and chess.

During its beginnings, the club competed in the Belgrade municipal league (Belgrade zone), playing its home games on the outdoor concrete court belonging to Braća Jerković primary school.[3] Since the municipal league ran in the spring-summer period, ILR Železnik also entered the Belgrade municipal winter league in order to maintain the fitness level until the start of the next season. The new club was well-received by Železnik residents who often packed the small home court. Over time, as interest in basketball grew throughout the community, the club started developing a youth system by adding various age categories.

In the 1980s, the Železnik's senior squad starting posting notable results as the club progressed from the lower leagues. By the mid-1980s, they made it to Serbian provincial league. However, with promotion to a higher level of competition, the operating costs also started rising. Unable to cover the costs of renting a basketball hall in which to compete, ILR Železnik effectively folded in 1986 as basketball activities ceased.

Reestablishment and top division

The club was inactive until 1991 when it got reestablished under the name KK FMP Železnik on the initiative of the Fabrika metalnih proizvoda (metal products factory), which became the club's owner. Almost immediately, the reestablished club continued where it had left-off in 1986. Following a season in the Second Serbian Provincial League, the club gained promotion to the First Provincial League. For the 1994–95 season, FMP Železnik made it to the Second Federal League in FR Yugoslavia, the 2nd-tier league in the country. In a memorable season, they won a top spot with only four league losses, winning promotion to the top Yugoslav league. On club's 20th anniversary in the 1995–96 season, FMP Železnik competed in the country's highest division. The club finished the regular season in third place, gaining entry into the Yugoslav League where they managed to avoid relegation, finishing in ninth place. The club won its first major trophy in 1997 when they won the Yugoslav Cup. In 1997, 1998, and 2003, the club finished as the runners-up in the country's top-tier league.

Regional league successes

In the 2003–04 season, the team, competing under the name KK Reflex, won the regional ABA League, defeating Croatian side Cibona in the final.[4] They won another ABA title two years later by defeating KK Partizan in the final.[5]

FMP played in the final of the 2011 Radivoj Korać Cup against Partizan, where they lost 77–73. In the next few years, FMP did not have much success in domestic competitions.

Agreement with Crvena zvezda

In August 2011, the club has reached a five-year agreement with KK Crvena zvezda after which the club used Crvena zvezda's name, emblem, and colors in that period.[6] The agreement stipulates that all the club's results within the specified period (including trophies) will be attributed to the Crvena zvezda. After this period, the contract stipulated that Crvena zvezda will continue where the FMP has left off.

In July 2015, Crvena zvezda became financially consolidate, and the agreement between the clubs ended a year before it was originally planned.[1] In the meantime, the KK Radnički Basket changed its name to KK FMP with headquarters at the address where the "original" FMP was based. The club used the same team colors and partially modified logo, while "the original" FMP has changed its name to KK ILR Železnik and started competing with junior selections only.[2]

Honours

Players

Retired numbers
KK FMP retired numbers
No Nat. Player Position Tenure Ref.
4Miloš TeodosićPG2004–2007
Bojan PopovićPG2001–2005
5Reggie FreemanSG2002–2003, 2003–2005
10Goran BoškovićSG/SF1996–1998
12Goran NikolićPF/C1997–2003
14Ognjen AškrabićPF/C1998–2004
20Duško SavanovićPF2003–2004; 2005–2006

Players in the NBA Draft
# Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular season or playoff game
Position Player Year Round Pick Drafted by
PF Vladimir Radmanović 2001 1st round 12th Seattle SuperSonics
SG Mladen Šekularac# 2002 2nd round 55th Dallas Mavericks
C Mile Ilić 2005 2nd round 43rd New Jersey Nets

Coaching history
Vlada Vukoičić led the club to its biggest success, winning the Adriatic League in 2006.

Notable players

References
  1. "Opet samo jedna Zvezda". B92.net (in Serbian). 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  2. "Zvezda preimenovana u Ivo Lola Ribar". sportskacentrala.com (in Serbian). 11 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. "Club Information". ABA League official website. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  4. "ABA GOODYEAR LEAGUE 2003-2004". eurobasket.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. "ABA GOODYEAR LEAGUE 2005-2006". eurobasket.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. "FMP postaje Crvena zvezda". B92.net (in Serbian). 12 August 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
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