It has been 31 years since the death of Dražen Petrović, the “Mozart of basketball,” but no one has forgotten him.
The Croatian basketball player, who “bombarded” the opposing baskets and “shattered” defenses with both Yugoslavia and later Croatia, as well as with the jerseys of Cibona, Real, Šibenik, Nets, and Blazers, died in a car accident in June 1993 at the age of 28.
On Thursday night in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, a host of basketball stars of today, as well as veterans who shared the court with the late Dražen, accepted the invitation from his brother, Aco Petrović, making the evening in memory of the “Mozart” even more emotional.
Fifteen thousand people in the stands created an intensely emotional atmosphere. Everyone present, both unknown and famous, honored the memory of a role model, a great athlete, and further amplified his already immense legacy.
Luka Dončić with his father, Nikos Galis (who also shook hands with Dražen’s mother), Panagiotis Giannakis, Vlade Divac, Toni Kukoč, Dino Radja, Zarko Paspalj, Stojan Vranković, Predrag Danilović, Doron Jamchy, Richard Dacoury, Ergin Ataman, Jorge Garbajosa, Svetislav Pešić, Aleksandar Džikić — all of them were there for Dražen, even if he could not see them, at least not up close.
Apart from their Turkish coach, Panathinaikos was also represented by Mathias Lessort, Sani Bečirović (Technical Director), and Dimitris Kontos (Basketball and Communication Director).
In the game section and the friendly match that featured several elite players of modern European basketball, Team Drazen defeated the Croatian team 110-107, with Džanan Musa standing out with 19 points. Toko Shengelia and Mathias Lessort each added 13 points, while Marjanović and Obst had 11 each, under the guidance of Željko Obradović.
For Hrvatska, with Bogdanović (in a comeback), Zubac, and Šarić, Mario Hezonja scored 36 points, although it wasn’t enough. Of course, the final score held little significance—none, to be exact.
Before the game, as reported by Mozzart Sport, Aco Petrović delivered an emotional speech to those present in the Zagreb arena.
Even Croatia’s silver-medal team from the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona paid tribute to their legendary teammate and captain, entering the court between the third and fourth quarters.
Additionally, trailers for an upcoming film about Dražen Petrović’s life — set to be released on October 22 — were shown in the arena, along with various clips from his past.
