BELGRADE (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Vladimir Stimac wants to be with Serbia's side again this summer when it plays at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

The 26-year-old center values everything about the national team experience.

"I learn a lot just from the players," he said to FIBA.com.

"It's amazing stuff. You can learn so much from them.

“(Nenad) Krstic (of CSKA Moscow), Rasko (Katic) from Red Star - they're great people."

Stimac logged just 14 minutes in Serbia's first seven games at last summer's EuroBasket, but then played a total of 40 in the last four contests.

He ended up having an important role because as the tournament wore on and players got tired, coach Dusan Ivkovic needed fresh legs.

In the crunch seventh-place game against Italy, one that determined which side would advance to the World Cup, Stimac played five minutes and made a couple of shots.

He finished with five points and helped Serbia win, 76-64.

Even if Serbia hadn't won, Stimac would have gotten something out of the summer.

"I had a great time and you make a lot of friends," he said.

"You work hard, but it's basketball and I love it, so we do it.

"It was my second year playing with the national team, learning from the other players and the coaches, everything was great."

Stimac will have more to offer in 2014 if selected.

He is a part of an Unicaja Malaga team that is playing in the Top 16 of the Euroleague.

Every week, Stimac competes against the best players in the continental competition.

Serbia's new coach, Aleksander Djordjevic, is no doubt keeping tabs on Stimac as he decides which players to invite to the training camp before Serbia start their FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign in Group A.

Ivkovic is a true coaching great, but Stimac believes the national side remains in good hands with Djordjevic.

"I think it's a good thing," Stimac said.

"The coaches were great before, but this is great, too.

"Everything is fine, right now.

"These are the big legends of basketball. People expect a lot. I'm really looking forward to it."

And what of his chances of being in the preliminary squad?

"I say always, 'We'll see.'

“Whatever the coach says. I cannot invite myself. I'll give my best (this season) and if that gets me there, then great."

Though Serbia struggled to make it to Spain 2014, Stimac is enthusiastic about the team's prospects.

Serbia will face Spain, France, Brazil, Iran and Egypt in Group A.

"Serbia can be really good," he said.

"We're a basketball country and everything is possible there."

FIBA