I just watched the ESPN documentary: "Once Brothers". Which talks about the relationship Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic had, as they played in the NBA, in those late 80s Yugoslavian national teams, and how their relationship ended when the Balcan wars started, and then the tragic death of Drazen.
Honestly, it was a great documentary and made me learn a bit more about those players, their circumstances and specially made me wonder about what Petrovic could of been.
He was starting to rise in the New Jersey Nets as an NBA superstar, he even had pretty exciting head-to-head matchups with Jordan or Reggie Miller (there is some footage out there in youtube about this).
If he didnt suffer that horrible car accident, what do you think could have been his top? Perennial all-star? all-time NBA great? (he is already an all-time european great, easily top-3).
I just watched the ESPN documentary: "Once Brothers". Which talks about the relationship Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic had, as they played in the NBA, in those late 80s Yugoslavian national teams, and how their relationship ended when the Balcan wars started, and then the tragic death of Drazen.
Honestly, it was a great documentary and made me learn a bit more about those players, their circumstances and specially made me wonder about what Petrovic could of been.
He was starting to rise in the New Jersey Nets as an NBA superstar, he even had pretty exciting head-to-head matchups with Jordan or Reggie Miller (there is some footage out there in youtube about this).
If he didnt suffer that horrible car accident, what do you think could have been his top? Perennial all-star? all-time NBA great? (he is already an all-time european great, easily top-3).
Just thinking, Portland would have been a dynasty. They could have had 2 of the all-time European GOATS on their squad. Sabonis and Drazen. Sabonis was drafted in 86 but didn't come til 95. A young Drazen was with Portland for a few seasons.
PG - Porter
SG - Drazen
SF - Drexler
PF - Buck
C - Duck
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Kearsey, Cliff Rob of the bench.
If there would not be this car accident, I think Drazen would make in upcoming season like 25ppg and 8assists on about 50% shooting. He is for me, the greatest shooter of all time. He scored once 113 points. I think, he could become top 3 guard in the league in that time. But, we`ll never know... sad, but true.
Just thinking, Portland would have been a dynasty. They could have had 2 of the all-time European GOATS on their squad. Sabonis and Drazen. Sabonis was drafted in 86 but didn't come til 95. A young Drazen was with Portland for a few seasons.
PG - Porter
SG - Drazen
SF - Drexler
PF - Buck
C - Duck
-----
Kearsey, Cliff Rob of the bench.
Great point.
Sabonis and Petrovic in the same squad? Im not exaggerating here when I talk about an NBA franchise winning multiple championships/dynasty with the arguably GOAT all-time european players, an all-time great like Drexler, Porter...etc.
Its a shame Rick Adelman didnt really have confidence in Drazen, and that prime Sabonis came late to the NBA and with multiple health problems.
Drazen got shafted by the NBA in his last season. He lost a coaches' decision all star bid to Joe Dumars.
Think he ended up all nba 3rd team.
Drazen had all the tools, and more importantly..he had heart.
He faced the Dream Team(the real one) and unlike Kukoc he didn't back down when the USA guards tried to intimidate him.
Drazen would have been a perennial all star. The incompetence of the Nets front office would have hampered his chances of winning a ring and becoming an alltime great.
Prime Kenny Anderson, Drazen and Derrick Coleman....would have won a lot of games.
If there would not be this car accident, I think Drazen would make in upcoming season like 25ppg and 8assists on about 50% shooting. He is for me, the greatest shooter of all time. He scored once 113 points. I think, he could become top 3 guard in the league in that time. But, we`ll never know... sad, but true.
Yeah man.
His all-around shooting was simply superb, and he had such a strong character, he didnt fear to go head to head with guys like Jordan, and offer him a decent challenge.
Considering European players werent that respected at that time, it is incredible what this guy did in his very short period playing in the NBA.
Sabonis and Petrovic in the same squad? Im not exaggerating here when I talk about an NBA franchise winning multiple championships/dynasty with the arguably GOAT all-time european players, an all-time great like Drexler, Porter...etc.
Its a shame Rick Adelman didnt really have confidence in Drazen, and that prime Sabonis came late to the NBA and when multiple health problems.
Well, he was behind Clyde and Porter, can you really blame him. Clyde for the same Portland franchise didn't become a full time starter til his 4th season (and was an All-Star his 3rd season as a half-starter/half-sixth man.)
yeah Petrovic wasn't gonna start over Clyde at that time.
the perception back then though was that international players wouldn't get a fair shake in the NBA and many great ones opted not to even try the NBA....and have to ride the bench. I always read about Oscar Schmidt being one of the top 5 international players ever.....but his pride wouldn't allow him to come over and get scrub minutes, just to say he played in the NBA
yeah Petrovic wasn't gonna start over Clyde at that time.
the perception back then though was that international players wouldn't get a fair shake in the NBA and many great ones opted not to even try the NBA....and have to ride the bench. I always read about Oscar Schmidt being one of the top 5 international players ever.....but his pride wouldn't allow him to come over and get scrub minutes, just to say he played in the NBA
Lets talk a bit about Drazen Petrovic
