2. Facts
Dražen Petrović was a Croatian
professional basketball player
He achieved success playing for
European teams and later joining the
National Basketball Association (NBA)
3. Early years
Dražen was born in Šibenik
October 22nd, 1964
His older brother Aleksandar
was the first one to trade the
basketball path providing a
lead for young Petrović
to follow
4. Career beginnings
At the age of 13 Petrović started playing in
the youth selections of the local Šibenka
and by the age of 15 he had already made
the first team
Petrović playing
for Šibenka
5. Professional career
In 1984, after spending a year serving a
mandatory time in military, Petrović followed
his brother’s footsteps and moved to Cibona
The very first year in Cibona he won the
Yugoslavian league championship, the
national cup and European Cup title
6. Professional Career
Dražen needed new challenges so in 1988
he signed with Real Madrid for 4 mil.$USD
Petrović helped Real to win the King’s Cup
title and also led the club to victory in the
European Winner’s Cup final
7. Professional career
For the 1989-1990 season Dražen joined
the Portland Trail Blazers in the USA
His lack of playing time during the second
year in the league brought Dražen’s
frustration to a climax
8. Professional career
In 1991 Petrović became a member of
New Jersey Nets
His determination and hard work made
him a team leader, later he was named
team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP)
His success translated into success for the
team, recording 14 more wins than the
previous year
10. National team
Petrović started playing for the Yugoslavian
national team at the age of 15 and helped
them to win numerous awards
From 1992-1993 he was a leader of
Croatian national basketball team
11. Tragic destiny
Petrović died in a car accident on
June 7th, 1993 as he was travelling
back to Croatia from Poland with his
girlfriend, Klara Szalantzy
12. Dražen Petrović
Memorial Center
A museum named The Dražen Petrović
Memorial Center was founded in his honor
and the idea originated form Dražen’s parents
