The two coaches, were asked the same seven questions by Katerina Anastasopoulou while they mentioned and talked about more interesting facts, including the possibility of coaching Greece NT at some point. The two coaches have a 9-9 record in 18 head-to-head games. In January when Panathinaikos will visit SEF, the loser will buy dinner and wine to the winner.

Before the interview started Ivkovic claimed that Obradovic was definitely the best coach while Obradovic had lowered his head and eyed his hands on his feet, as a display of respect to his "teacher".

Question #1: Could your friendship make the difference in the rivalry between the two clubs?

Ivkovic: Our good relationship could help the current situation of Greek basketball to improve. I know it sounds like like I'm day-dreaming. Matches should be like shows. And our rivalry with Obradovic should be like a chess game.
Obradovic: It is not an Obradovic vs Ivkovic game. It's a game between our two teams. Me and Ivkovic will be friends forever.

Question #2: How will you react in case there are riots in a game between the two clubs?

Ivkovic: Zeljko said that in the first object thrown into the court he will take his team and go. I disagree. As coaches we are responsible just for our players' actions. What happens elsewhere is the responsibility of other people.
Obradovic: Discussing such a possibility will only add fuel to the fire. I don't want to talk about riots ever again, just basketball. I will ask fans to behave in OAKA.

Question #3: Olympiacos have added Vasilis Spanoulis to their squad, who was one of the main weapons of Panathinaikos last season and whom Obradovic knows very well. What will be his role in the games between the two clubs?

Ivkovic: Basketball is a team sport. Vasilis Spanoulis is a great player, no doubt.
Obradovic: It is a fact that I know everything there is to know about Vasilis. But so does "Duda" too. It is our job to know everything. Now we only have to find a way to win.

Question #4: Yannis Ioannidis had once talked about a "Serbian lobby". What do you have to say about that?

Ivkovic: One night a bunch of us Serbs went out, Bajevic (football coach), Maljkovic, Savic, Sakota and myself. And the next day I was reading about a Serbian lobby in sports newspapers covers, which also claimed that I was the leader. The difference is that we Serbs are always united. It's a way of life.
Obradovic: It's true that I have helped a lot of people who had asked for my assistance. That is how I live my life. The toughest thing is to be honest with yourself, success brings envy from third parties. One should be humble and honest.

Question #5: Serbian government has honoured you by handing you diplomatic passports. How do you handle them?

Ivkovic: Serbia gave us diplomatic passports, considering us ambassadors of Serbian sports. I have never used it so far. We are ordinary people.
Obradovic: It's a recognition of everything we have offered. During the embargo against Serbia we went through rough times, so the government handed them to us. I haven't used mine either.

Quesiton #6: You've lived in Greece for many years. What is your opinion about the financial crisis?

Ivkovic: I would have never left Serbia, if it wasn't for financial necessity. I had foreseen the separation of Yugoslavia and war. I have worked and earned respectable money, but my life hasn't changed. I first came to Greece in 1980 because my son had bronchial asthma and we needed to live somewhere with good climate. I accepted the offer I had from Aris. I love the people, the music and sensitivity of Greece. It is not east to comprehend a Greek. Greece will overcome the current situation.
Obradovic: People have to lead a different lifestyle now. We have to keep being optimistic and have faith. I love Greece.

Question #7: How have the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia affected your lives and careers?

Ivkovic: When the first missile went off I was at home (in Greece). It was early morning and I was watching CNN. It was worse than a heart stab. On the other hand I witnessed the support by the people. On the streets I understood the soul of the Greek people and democracy.
Obradovic: I was in Treviso and I could see the jet fighters taking off to bomb by home country. That war was a disgrace. There is no justice when some nations play the role of sheriffs.

The two coaches also spoke about their early lives and their future:

Dusan Ivkovic: My childhood wasn't easy, but my parents made sure that all four of us would never go hungry. I was the younger of the four siblings. My brother Slobodan was extremely talented in basketball, he played the violin and sang better than Ray Charles. My father was a lawyer and was against sports and pigeons, which I loved. Pigeons are more than a passion for me (he was recently awarded a medal for that in Serbia), it is something our family have been into for more than 100 years and have documented it in a book.

I'm currently coaching two teams. I don't know if I have what it takes to make it to London Olympics in 2012. There are a lot of things to be taken under consideration.

Zeljko Obradovic: The most important person in my life was my father. He taught me everything and told me to respect other people. My idol was Dragan Kicanovic. He was the reason I loved basketball and he was the one who suggested I became a coach, as I did — overnight — in 1991.

After that I hadn't slept for two months. I had a notepad where I wrote down systems. I had to have answers for everything. The moment that you do not have the answer you are done as a coach.

I enjoy coaching Panathinaikos. As for the Greek National Team, it is not up to me but the Basketball Federation. You have to ask them if they want me. I'm happy coaching Panathinaikos and I'm flattered that people think I'm good enough to coach Greece. It is an honour to me.