Travis
Spennies
Sports InsiderDrazen Petrovic: One Extraordinary Basketball Player.
October 16th 2007 03:44
(Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)
In an age where European players win NBA MVP awards, and are the number one picks in the Draft, it would prove surprising to many that not so long ago, ballers from the Continent were seen as not only inferior, but not worthy of a spot in the top basketball league in the world. That all changed in the late 80s and early 90s when Drazen Petrovic became a European trail blazer, opening the eyes of Americans at how good players could be from that part of the world.
Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986, Petrovic’s short, but stunning career would leave an impression on the NBA that is still being felt to this day.
Date of Birth: 22nd October, 1964 in Sibenik, Croatia.
Died: 7th June, 1993
Height: 6’5”
Draft: 60th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Average Points per Game: 15.4
Average Rebounds per Game: 2.3
Average Assists per Game: 2.4
Honours: Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2002); All-NBA Third Team (1993)
Petrovic was an international phenomenon where he would lead the former Yugoslavian basketball team to glory in World and European competitions, winning gold in both, whilst helping his team out in the 1988, and 1992 Olympics in their bronze and silver medal efforts.
It was in the NBA where Drazen would leave his greatest mark, establishing himself as one
The sweet shooting, Petrovic at work. (Nathaniel S. Butler)
After being traded to the New Jersey Nets, Petrovic’s game would reach unprecedented heights, averaging 21.4 and 22.3 points per game, while leading the team in scoring.
Drazen’s NBA accomplishments are a far cry from his humble beginnings in Sibenik, a small port city in the Adriatic Sea. Petrovic and his brother would often tirelessly work on their games on a makeshift basketball court whenever they had the time. It is extraordinary to consider that in his formative years, he was self-taught in the art of hoops. The practice would pay off when the talented 15 year old joined the Yugoslav national team.
So, good was Drazen, Notre Dame tried to lure the youngster to play college basketball in the U.S. but the travel restrictions in the old Soviet bloc meant that Petrovic would not be able to strut his stuff till the end of the 80s. Meanwhile, he dominated the European basketball landscape with Real Madrid in Spain, helping the team win multiple titles along the way.
The divorce from Real Madrid was messy, leaving bad feelings from the Spanish side, but Drazen was determined to establish himself in the NBA, joining the Blazers in 1989.
Portland was already set in the shooting guard position with Clyde Drexler, so the rookie experienced big growing pains in his first season. His output was unspectacular, and his defensive liabilities meant that he would only see limited game time.
With Drexler on board, Portland traded the Croatian sensation to the Nets, where he would see limited game time too, but the abilities were there for all to see with a league leading best points-per-minute ratio.
Drazen’s long range shooting abilities allowed him to start for the Nets and he instantly flourished, averaging 20.6 points a game, and gaining recognition as one of the deadliest scorers in the NBA.
In the ’92-’93 season his numbers got even better leading the team in points, field goal percentage and three point field goal percentage. So, good was Drazen that the media voted him into the All-NBA Third Team. His coach at the time, Chuck Daly, had this to say about Petrovic: "You couldn't have wanted a better teammate," New Jersey Head Coach Chuck Daly told the Newark Star-Ledger. "He was very talented, he played very hard and was able to lead by his example. He was indefatigable." (NBA.com)
After the Nets were eliminated from the playoffs in his best and final season, Drazen was back in Europe to represent Croatia in European Cup competition. After a star turn in Poland, Petrovic made a detour to Germany to visit his girlfriend. On June 7 en route to Munich, the car where he was a passenger in ploughed into a tractor-trailer killing Drazen instantly. He was 28.
In celebration of Drazen Petrovic’s life, today’s video is of the man himself.
| 40 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
