Ares501 - Mr Green
27144
wow Ming you just
made me shiver ....
thank you very very much for writing this down
all you said about The Man is true and much more
he was so kind and simple person also
hardworking as hell ... I remember when I was in primary school
and was for some time practicing basketball in Cibona (the name of hometown team Drazen was playing for)
I had rare opportunity to see, after our practice was finished, him practicing
for the national basketball team game.
After one hour of practice all players left the court
but he continued to practice tree points for more than 1 hours !!!!!
I remember that we kids left home after 1 hours and he was still there for
God know's how long .... we were mesmerized by him and his skill
but what is enough is enough :0))
unfortunately all finished to early he died in car accident in Germany being only 28 years old
(but enough to become legend)
he played for
KK Šibenka (1979.–1983.)
KK
Cibona (1984.–1988.)
Real Madrid (1988.–1989.)
Portland Trail Blazers (1989.–1991.)
New Jersey Nets (1991.–1993.)
He missed ... rarely .. very rarely
his characteristic "move" ... isn't it funny that greatest European and
American basketball payer were playing with their tongue out
Sculpture in front of basketball arena which carries his name as well as square were arena is built
his sculpture in front of Olympic museum in Laussane, Swiss
and sadly Legends grave .... what is most moving thing about this place is that his mother stands whole
day every year from dust till down on All Saints Day besides and thousands of people are coming leaving flowers and
giving her condolences every single year from 1993 :0(
I started to play basketball because of him.
When he died our national basketball team just went to ruins
With Drazen as captain of our National basketball team we won Silver Olympic medal in legendary final game in Barcelona
against one and only Dream team.
Sorry for this long reply but you moved me so much
I don't play basketball any more!
Best
Damian
P.S. As NBA is in question I was for Nets only while he was there
after for Bulls because of Toni Kukoc but my favorite team since childhood
is Detroit Pistons .... I stayed till 4 or 5AM awake to watch clashes between Isaiah Tomas & Jabbar
during 1989 & 1990 (my mother was sure that I'm insane :=)