Drazen Petrovic is a name that many hardcore NBA fans know very well because the 6’5” Croatian was a sensational scorer and shooter in his prime. After competing overseas between 1987-1989, Petrovic made it to the NBA in 1990 and kickstarted his growth on the biggest stage of basketball. We all know that Petrovic was killed in an unfortunate car accident, but was ultimately honored as his name was enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
- A Slow Start To His NBA Career
- A Box-Office Attraction: Stardom Was At His Doorstep
- An Unfortunate Ending
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But why was Petrovic so great? Why does his name transcend the United States and Europe as a basketball legend? The reason was that his skills were truly unique and in terms of highlight-reel plays, very few in history could compare to what Petrovic brought to the game as a quick shooting guard with an unrelenting motor and love for the game.
A Slow Start To His NBA Career
After 3 years abroad, Petrovic began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers by appearing in 77 games and averaging 7.6 PPG. While his numbers seemed slightly subpar for a future legend, he was only 25 years old and taking a stab at playing in America after playing professionally in Yugoslavia and Spain. Petrovic would see slight improvements in his second year, competing in 18 games for the Trail Blazers before moving onto the New Jersey Nets squad in 1991. Petrovic only averaged 4.4 PPG with Portland and later 12.6 PPG with the Nets, which showed improvements in his all-around offensive game.
During his time with the Trail Blazers, Clyde Drexler admitted, “Drazen and I were very good friends. I was one of those people who welcomed him to Portland when he came from Europe. We talked about his family a lot in his restaurant, and he enjoyed his friends and he enjoyed the game of basketball. I really respect him because he worked very, very, hard. Each and every day in practice he would be the first guy to come and the last guy to leave the gym. So, anybody with that kind of dedication… you have a lot of respect for him.”
A Box-Office Attraction: Stardom Was At His Doorstep
After two turbulent seasons in the NBA, Petrovic began showcasing his box-office capabilities playing all 82 games and bringing stardom to the league. But once Drazen became a star, he bridged the gap between the USA and “the world”. Petrovic was considered a pioneer for the sport because he brought awareness to Yugoslavia and the immense talent that existed outside of North America.
Averaging 20.6 PPG in his 3rd NBA season with the Nets, Petrovic started making highlight plays. Even though he weighed 195 lbs at 6’5”, the Hall of Famer was ultra-quick and had excellent handles and scoring ability. The Croatian also shot 50.8% from the field, 44.4% from three, and 80.8% from the free-throw line. Clearly, he was en route to becoming a superstar. The following season, however, Petrovic would hit new heights.
In 1993, Petrovic averaged 22.3 PPG on 51.8% shooting from the field, 44.9% shooting from three, and 87.0% from the stripe. His shooting numbers for a player in the early 90s were extraordinary, and the Hall of Famer was a natural marksman. If he played in today’s game, we are possibly talking about a top-3 shooter in the league. The guard was simply a sensational talent, and one of New Jersey’s greatest players. For a city known for its love of stars, Petrovic made the All-NBA Team and completed the final season of his career.
An Unfortunate Ending
Drazen Petrovic would have been recognized as possibly the greatest European player, without a doubt, had he continued to play. But a car accident led to an early death by one of the great players of his generation, ending a legacy that was short and certainly sweet while it lasted. Due to the global impact that Petrovic brought and also his skillset as a scoring guard, the Nets retired his jersey number and the player was enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
On skillset and impact alone, it is very hard to compare any European player to him. That is why, in 2013, Petrovic was voted as the greatest European player ever by players in the EuroBasket. Not to mention, Petrovic was honored as a top-50 EuroLeague Contributor. Back in the 90s, it was extremely rare to see the amount of talented European players that exist in the NBA today, and Petrovic is one of the pioneers for spreading awareness of the global sport.
