Smoke flares ignite the Belgrade dusk. Crimson bursts illuminate terraces soaked in history, basketball history, and far beyond, yet still untouched in their magnificent power to evoke. Beneath the shadow of monumental fortress walls, Kalemegdan welcomes the mastery of a Balkan icon – Luka Dončić – while feeding the half-court intensity of a format that can take you anywhere, and send you home in an instant.

In this mythical basketball sanctuary, character is the first requirement. Every one-on-one exposes everything. It demands composure: the cold-blooded clarity MJ built and preached throughout his legacy, the kind needed to erase anyone standing between you and the final buzzer. Alongside it, however, comes another necessity: the willingness to give yourself over to primal energies and unseen currents. To guttural chants. To thousands upon thousands of eyes raised by the Game, ready to celebrate every stop at the rim, to feed on feral battles marked by steals and loose balls. Above all, it takes remaining true to who you are to become ‘The One’ at the epicenter of Belgrade.

Jovana Maksimović and Milan Pejin accomplish precisely that. They do it by never drifting from their own identities, even as the passionate chaos surrounding them devours their emotions for hours on end. Solid and direct, the former. Multifaceted and electric, the latter. Both shaped by the ultimate secret of the Game: the unseen work, done in silence, the only true formula for reaching the ecstasy of the summit. In this case, the European finals in London.

Through its lens, RiseUp Duo transforms these impressions into imagery and chronicle alike. This feature is part of a special editorial series through which we will tell the story of every European chapter of ‘The One,’ beginning with Madrid, which you can revisit here, and Ljubljana, available here.

What made you fall in love with basketball, and what does the game mean to you today?

Jovana Maksimovic: “I fell in love with basketball when I was five years old. A friend of mine, whose father was a coach, invited me to my first practice. From that moment, I was hooked. Today, basketball means everything to me. I travel to another city every day just to train. It’s a huge part of my life and something I truly love.”

Milan Pejin: “I fell in love with basketball when I was eight or nine years old. Some older friends invited me to play, and I immediately enjoyed it. My father also played basketball, and when he saw how much I loved the Game, he started helping me develop. He still trains with me today. Basketball has become part of my identity. Everyone around me knows me as a basketball player. It’s what I think about, what I work on, and what I love. In many ways, it’s my life.”

MJ built up his game playing on the backyard hoop with his brother. What was your first hoop and when did you start to play one-on-one?

Jovana Maksimovic: “The first court I remember was a local court near a high school where a lot of my friends used to play. At first, I was just a kid having fun, but around the age of ten I started to fall in love with the Game. To be honest, this was my first one-on-one tournament: I was never really involved in the one-on-one culture. I’ve always preferred team basketball. I love sharing the court with teammates and competing together. But this format and the event itself taught me something new about the Game.”

Milan Pejin: “My first court was the neighborhood court in Sremska Kamenica, in Novi Sad, where I used to play with my older friends. That’s where everything started for me. As for one-on-one, I was always competing against my dad. We played everything together, and basketball was no exception. Around the age of twelve, we started training more seriously in an old basketball facility, and that’s where I really began developing my game. He never let me win. Not once. When I finally beat him for the first time, it felt incredible. I used to get frustrated when I lost, but looking back, those battles taught me a lot.”

What are the keys to dominating the one-on-one? What kind of energy do you need in order to succeed?

Jovana Maksimovic: “When I arrived at the tournament, I was really nervous. I thought I might lose my first game and be done. But once I reached the final, I relaxed and started enjoying the experience. My focus was simple: never give up. Even when you’re behind, the game is never over. You have to keep fighting until the very end.”

Milan Pejin: “I love one-on-one basketball. I play it all the time with teammates and friends. To succeed, you need skill above all else: shooting, ball-handling, footwork, creativity. Physical tools matter too, but skill is the foundation. What makes one-on-one unique is that everything depends on you. Basketball is usually a team sport, but here there are no excuses and no one else to rely on. It’s just you against your opponent.”

What does the Kalemegdan represent for Belgrade? And how is it like playing on this legendary court?

Jovana Maksimovic: “I’m actually not from Belgrade, I’m from Inđija, but I know Kalemegdan is a very important place in Serbian history. Playing on this court was incredible. The atmosphere was amazing, and I had never played in front of so many people before. The energy from the crowd made the experience unforgettable.”

Milan Pejin: “I’m from Novi Sad, so this was actually my first time playing at Kalemegdan. The court has enormous historical significance. It’s one of the most iconic basketball venues in Serbia and a place where generations of great players have competed. Playing there was an incredible experience. I had never performed in front of such a large crowd before, especially in a one-on-one setting. I loved the energy from the fans.”

You won in front of Luka Dončić. What was that experience like for you?

Jovana Maksimovic: “It felt like a dream. I never imagined I would meet Luka Dončić in real life. I’ve always loved watching him play, so sharing that moment was very special.”

Milan Pejin: “It felt surreal. I’ve been watching Luka since he was a kid in Madrid, and now he’s one of the best players in the world. Sharing that moment with him was something I’ll never forget. Hopefully he remembers me, and maybe one day we’ll even share a court.”

If you had the chance, which aspects of Luka’s game would you steal and bring to London?

Jovana Maksimovic: “Probably his skill level, but especially the way he stays so relaxed on the court. Even when things aren’t going his way, he always looks calm and in control.”

Milan Pejin: “I’d take his composure more than anything. He always looks like he’s playing on his own playground. He never seems rushed, worried, or uncomfortable. And then there’s his basketball IQ. He sees things before anyone else does and always knows exactly what the game needs.”

In your opinion, what makes Belgrade ‘The One’ city of basketball?

Jovana Maksimovic: “So many great players have come from Belgrade, and people all over the world know their stories. Serbia is a basketball country. Whenever our national team plays, everyone watches. It becomes a special event that brings people together.”

Milan Pejin: “Serbia is a basketball country. We’ve always had great players, and we continue to produce them. More importantly, people genuinely love the Game. You can feel that passion everywhere: from Belgrade and EuroLeague arenas to local courts in small villages. Just look at how many people came to watch a youth one-on-one tournament. That tells you everything you need to know about basketball culture here.”

How does it feel to have become a local hero? And how much work in the shadows did it take to reach this spotlight?

Jovana Maksimovic: “I’ve put so much effort into basketball, so hearing people speak about me in that way is an incredible feeling. I love the feeling after every practice, and I’m always trying to improve. That’s what motivates me to keep working and keep playing.”

Milan Pejin: “It feels incredible, although I’m not sure I’d call myself a local hero. I love basketball, and I love the work that comes with it. I’ve sacrificed a lot because this is what I want to do with my life. Moments like this remind me that the sacrifices are worth it. I’m also happy for my family. They all have invested so much in helping me chase this dream… Sharing this success with them means a lot.”

At Athleta Mag, we see sport as a form of art. Do you consider basketball an art form?

Jovana Maksimovic: “Absolutely, even if it’s difficult to explain exactly why. Basketball is unpredictable. Some days are great, others are challenging, and you never know exactly how a game will unfold. You keep working, trying to become better, and expressing yourself through the game. That’s part of what makes it beautiful to me.”

Milan Pejin: “100%. Basketball is one of the most creative sports there is. It rewards imagination and allows players to invent solutions that no one has seen before. It has rhythm, timing, improvisation, and constant adaptation. You read your opponent, react to situations, and create something new every possession. That freedom is what makes basketball feel like an art form to me.”

What does it feel like to be Belgrade’s The One?

Jovana Maksimovic: “It feels amazing. I still can’t quite believe it happened. I never expected it, and I’m just incredibly happy.”

Milan Pejin: “It feels great. I was confident in myself, but I didn’t expect to win. The level of competition was high, and I’m proud of the work I put in to get here.”

What will it take to become ‘The One On Anyone’ in London, and potentially on the world stage in the global final?

Jovana Maksimovic: “I’m just going to give my best and enjoy every moment. Everything that has happened so far has been unexpected, so I want to stay relaxed and make the most of it. London has always been a dream destination for me, and I’m especially happy because I’ll be travelling there with my best friend. She was my opponent in the final, and now we get to share this experience together. Honestly, it couldn’t be better.”

Milan Pejin: “It’s going to take a relaxed mindset, a lot of preparation, and a lot of shooting. I expect to face outstanding players, but I’m excited for that challenge. I’m not putting pressure on myself to win. What matters most is competing at my best level, testing my skills, and proving to myself that I can go up against anyone.”