In the following decades, Knežević’s choices proved to be the right ones, as they became the four pillars on which Yugoslav basketball was built. Back in 1945, when the four played together, they had the same goals, ideas, ambitions and strengths to turn their fantasies of achieving European and global heights into reality. Thus, the strategy to take Yugoslav basketball to the top was set in stone. The coach, Aleksandar Nikolić, immediately went to the United States for professional training. Popović, Stanković and Šaper were just beginning to demonstrate their organisational skills. Raša was the first to receive an official position as leader of the Technical Secretariat, later renamed the Competition Commission. Popović soon became the vice-president of the Federation, and Stanković was the first “team leader” and, later, Secretary General.