Drazen Petrovic

Lore & Background

Petrović earned a silver medal in 1988 with Yugoslavia and a bronze in 1992 with Croatia at the Summer Olympic Games, a gold (1990) and a bronze (1986) at the FIBA World Cup, and a gold (1989) and a bronze (1987) at the FIBA EuroBasket. He was named to the FIBA World Championship All-Tournament Team in 1986 and was the FIBA EuroBasket MVP in 1989. With Cibona Zagreb, he won two consecutive EuroLeague championships in 1985 and 1986. He first represented Yugoslavia's senior national team and later Croatia's senior national team. He earned four Euroscars and was named Mr. Europa twice. In 1985, he received the Golden Badge award for the best athlete of Yugoslavia. After joining the NBA in 1989 with the Portland Trail Blazers, he experienced a breakthrough following a trade to the New Jersey Nets, becoming one of the league's best shooting guards, and his .4374 three-point field goal percentage ranks fourth in NBA history. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. On 7 June 1993, he died in a car accident in Germany at age 28. His jersey number 3 was retired by the Nets in 1993. He was posthumously enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. He is considered to have helped usher in today's flood of European players in the NBA. In Croatia, he is viewed as a national hero.

In Their Own Story

The lights of the Brendan Byrne Arena hummed with anticipation as Petrović dribbled up the court, the ball seemingly glued to his fingertips. With seconds ticking away in a tight game against Boston, he drove baseline, spun effortlessly past two defenders, and rose for a fadeaway jumper that seemed to hang in the air forever. The net swished, silencing the crowd momentarily before erupting into cheers. It was just one of many such moments where he turned the tide, showcasing a grace under pressure that would become his hallmark.

Reader's Guide

Petrović started playing in the youth selections of Šibenka at age 13, making the first team at 15. With Šibenka, he reached the FIBA Korać Cup final twice (1981–82 and 1982–83), losing both times to Limoges CSP. In 1983, he hit two free throws in Šibenka's victory over Bosna Sarajevo in the final playoff game of the Yugoslavian League's 1982–83 season, but the title was later stripped from Šibenka due to refereeing irregularities. He then joined Cibona Zagreb after a year's mandatory military service. In his first season with Cibona (1984–85), he won the Yugoslav League championship and Yugoslav National Cup, averaging 32.5 points per game in league play. On 6 December 1984, he scored 44 points against Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, and scored 36 points in the 1985 EuroLeague Final, winning the title. On 5 October 1985, he scored 112 points in a Yugoslav League game against Union Olimpija Ljubljana, breaking Radivoj Korać's single-game scoring record of 74 points. Over the 1985–86 Yugoslav League season, he averaged 41.4 points per game. He also won another Yugoslav National Cup title that season. In the 1985–86 EuroLeague, he scored 44 points against Maccabi Tel Aviv, 47 points and 25 assists against Simac Milano, and 49 points and 20 assists against Real Madrid.

Did You Know?

• Petrović scored 112 points in a single Yugoslav League game on 5 October 1985, breaking the previous record of 74 points set by Radivoj Korać in 1962.
• He was named to the FIBA World Championship All-Tournament Team in 1986 and was the FIBA EuroBasket MVP in 1989.
• His .4374 three-point field goal percentage ranks fourth in NBA history.
• He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.