Dražen Petrović achieved a three-point field goal percentage of .4374 during his professional career, a mark that ranks fourth in the history of the National Basketball Association. His trajectory moved from youth leagues in Šibenik to the highest levels of European basketball before he joined the New Jersey Nets, significantly altering the integration of European players into the professional league.
Early Career in Šibenik
Born in 1964 in Šibenik, Petrović entered the first team of the local club Šibenka at age 15. During his tenure, which lasted until 1983, he progressively improved his scoring statistics. In his final season with the club, he averaged 24.5 points per game. Although Šibenka secured a victory against Bosna Sarajevo in the 1982–83 league championship playoff, the title was revoked by the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia due to officiating disputes.
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Following mandatory military service, Petrović joined Cibona Zagreb. His impact was immediate, leading the club to two consecutive EuroLeague championships in 1985 and 1986. During a 1985 game against Union Olimpija Ljubljana, he set a record by scoring 112 points. His domestic success included multiple Yugoslav League championships and Yugoslav National Cup titles, while his international accolades during this era included a gold medal at the 1989 FIBA EuroBasket.
Professional Transition and Legacy
Petrović moved to the National Basketball Association in 1989, initially playing for the Portland Trail Blazers before a trade to the New Jersey Nets allowed him to establish himself as a key starter. His international career remained decorated, including Olympic silver medals in 1988 and 1992. His life ended at age 28 in a 1993 car accident in Denkendorf, Germany. Posthumously, he received the Silver Olympic Order and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Šibenik
- Died: 1993, Denkendorf
- Career: Basketball player
- Citizenship: Croatia, Yugoslavia
- Burial site: Mirogoj Cemetery
- 2002 award: Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport
- 2005 recognition: Star on Croatian Walk of Fame
Questions readers ask
Which international basketball honors did Petrović achieve?
He earned two silver medals and one bronze at the Summer Olympic Games, a gold and bronze at the FIBA World Cup, and a gold and bronze at the FIBA EuroBasket.
What is his standing in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
He was posthumously enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Achievements
- Silver Olympic Order — 1993
- FIBA Hall of Fame
- Worked as basketball player
