Remembering Drazen Petrovic: 1964-1993

Photo: Drazen Petrovic shoots a free-throw as a member of the New Jersey Nets. Photo credit: Associated Press.

Cover photo: Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets during a 1991 game against the Washington Bullets in Landover, Md. Photo credit: Focus on Sport, Getty Images.

Reggie Miller called him the best shooter that he ever played against. He was fearless in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics against the United States’ Dream Team, scoring 24 points in the Gold Medal Game against Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. As a New Jersey Net in 1991-92 and 1992-93, he averaged 20.6 points per game and 22.3 points per game. He was All-NBA 3rd team in 1993 and was just getting started. 

Then tragedy befell Drazen Petrovic, who was just 28 years old when he was a passenger in a red Volkswagen Golf that crashed into a truck on the autobahn near the German city of Ingolstadt on July 7, 1993. The following day, Tuesday, July 8, was the day that a press conference was held at the Meadowlands Arena. Willis Reed, the New Jersey Nets’ Vice President at the time, was in tears talking about the passing of the Nets’ star. 

Petrovic, a four-year NBA veteran, was just coming into his own as an NBA player. Prior to New Jersey, he was a promising Portland Trail Blazer that cried in the locker room after learning of his 1991 trade to the Nets. The Blazer team led by Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter was championship-ready, and Petrovic was a bright part of their future. The Nets, meanwhile, were younger but had great talent in the form of 24-year-old Derrick Coleman and 21-year-old Kenny Anderson.

Before a 290-game NBA career that saw him average 15.4 points in 26.4 minutes (50.6% shooting on 11.6 attempts, 43.7% from 3-point range), Petrovic was an international superstar. 

From 1984-89, playing for both Cibona (Zagreb) and Real Madrid (‘88-‘89), Petrovic was a two-time EuroLeague champion (1985, 1986), a 1987 FIBA Europe All-Star, four-time winner of the Euroscar European Player of the Year award (1986, 1989, 1992-93), two-time Croatian Sportsman of the Year (1985, 1986), 1985 Yugoslav Sportsman of the Year and Best Athlete of Yugoslavia for 1985 (his team won the Yugoslav League that same year). Petrovic was also a three-time Yugoslav Cup Winner (1985, 1986, 1988), two-time winner of the Mr. Europa award (1986, 1993), 1986 FIBA World Championship MVP, 1989 FIBA EuroBasket MVP, and Spanish League top scorer, Spanish Cup Winner, and the Spanish Cup Final top scorer in 1989. In 1988, he was the top scorer of the FIBA Korac Cup Finals, and in 1987 and 1989 was both FIBA Saporta Cup champion and the Saporta Cup Finals’ top scorer. In 1991, he was named as one of FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players, and in 1993 received the Olympic Order. Petrovic was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2008, he was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. His jersey number is retired by Cibona. 

On November 11, 1993, Petrovic’s No. 3 was retired by the Nets. His No. 3 Net jersey is one of the most identifiable, notable, and popular throwback jerseys of all in the NBA, particularly in the history of the Nets’ franchise and certainly of the New Jersey Nets. The Mitchell and Ness branded royal blue with the red lettering and numbers was popular at basketball tournaments back in the day.

Petrovic was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2006, the Drazen Petrovic Award was created by the Croatian Olympic Committee to recognize star young athletes. 

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Drazen Petrovic’s 30-Point Career NBA Games (14) 

(FG/3PT/FT)

44 points (17-23, 3-3, 7-7) - 1/24/93 vs. HOU, 41 minutes 

39 points (17-26, 3-3, 2-2) - 03/13/92 @ BOS, 46 minutes 

38 points (13-19, 2-3, 10-11) - 04/05/92 @ IND, 45 minutes

35 points (12-18, 4-5, 7-7) - 02/04/93 vs. SEA, 53 minutes

34 points (12-18, 10-10 FT) - 02/14/93 vs. MIA, 47 minutes

34 points (13-23, 5-7, 3-3) - 12/04/92 vs. SA, 46 minutes

33 points (13-19, 3-6, 4-6) - 11/16/91 @ HOU, 38 minutes

32 points (12-24, 1-2, 7-8) - 01/30/93 @ HOU, 45 minutes

32 points (13/25, 1-3, 5-6) - 12/19/92 @ IND, 45 minutes

32 points (11-21, 1-1. 9-10) - 11/15/92 vs. WAS, 42 minutes 

32 points (12-15, 4-6, 4-4) - 12/27/91 @ CHA, 32 minutes

32 points (13-23, 4-6, 2-5) - 11/27/91 @ SA, 41 minutes

31 points (12-24, 4-8, 3-5) - 03/07/92 @ SEA, 40 minutes 

30 points (13-18, 1-2, 3-5) - 01/18/92 @ MIN, 42 minutes

*via StatMuse

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Said Michael Jordan of Petrovic: 

“I always had respect for Drazen Petrovic because he always came at me aggressively in our duels, he wasn't afraid. Every shot, every move, every contact.” 

One of the greatest shooters in NBA history and one of the greatest international players of all time. Gone far too soon with so much left to give. We remember Drazen Petrovic on his birthday. RIP.