Dražen Petrović, one of Croatia’s greatest sportsmen, tragically passed away 30 years ago today.

Drazen’s grave at Mirogoj cemetery.

On 7 June 1993, Petrović, who was just 28 years of age, was killed in a car accident in Germany after returning from playing for Croatia in Poland the previous day. 

 Known as “Basketball’s Mozart,” he was born in Šibenik on October 22, 1964. At a young age, he made a name for himself playing for the local club Šibenka before moving to Zagreb to play for Cibona. 

He later joined Real Madrid and helped them win titles. Dražen’s success continued when he moved to the Portland Trailblazers and then the New Jersey Nets. He was voted the Best European Basketballer in History and was known for his impressive scoring abilities. He achieved remarkable statistics and was a key figure in the rise of European players in the NBA. 

 In addition to his club success, Dražen also won medals in Olympic basketball and earned gold and bronze at the FIBA World and European Championships. He had an illustrious career and left a lasting impact on the basketball world.

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