[8][9][10] His mother was born in Bilice, near ibenik, and was from a traditional conservative Croat family, devoutly Roman Catholic. Hopefully, a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in this league.. Learn more about merges. [37] Petrovi decided to skip the connection flight back to Zagreb and drive with his girlfriend back to Croatia. Nets guard Kenny Anderson said he heard about Petrovic's death late Monday night while he was at a restaurant. The Golf driven by Szalantzy had by then been on the road for some time. It was, thought Miocic, unusual of Petrovic that he was so quickly enamored with Szalantzy. [11] The couple's eldest child, Aleksandar, was the first to play basketball and rose to become one of the top point guards in former Yugoslavia. In 2014, Jos Antonio Arzaga, the sports agent who played a key role in Petrovi's 1988 summer transfer from Cibona to Real, recalled a few details from the transaction: "I spoke to Mirko Novosel, Draen's head coach at Cibona, and he told me two things. American media honored him with a selection to the All-NBA Third Team. One day after New Jersey Nets star Drazen Petrovic was killed when a car He made the All-NBA third team after averaging a team-leading 22.3 points on 52 percent field-goal shooting and was one of the league's top 3-point . Olimpija general manager Radovan Lorbek was reportedly late with submitting a registration letter to the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia (KSJ) headquarters in Belgrade. We talked about his family a lot in his restaurant, and he enjoyed his friends and he enjoyed the game of basketball. drazen petrovic autopsy report. In the Blazers' offensive scheme he was to set up behind the line, receive a passed ball and go directly up to release his shot. We have a lot in this city and you hear and read about it all the time. The season ended on a somewhat sour note due to the dominant Cibona losing the Yugoslav league playoff final series to heavy underdogs KK Zadar. "He came from a small country, learned to play like an American, and that's The Nets would eventually lose the best of 5 series 3 games to 1. Hours following the fatal crash, the Croatian national team received the news of their captain being killed in a car accident. Every beginning is tough and after one year everything will be different. The truck barreled its way through the median that separated the northbound and southbound lanes and was now in the middle of three southbound lanes. Whoever is part of the lineup, well be ready., Facundo Campazzo seems to have found his new team. On 22 January 1986, in a European Champions Cup game against the French League club Limoges, Petrovi made ten 3-pointers, including seven in a row during a first-half stretch, for a final tally of 51 points and 10 assists in the game. The death of Drazen Petrovic, a Croatian player who with the Nets became one of the National Basketball Association's top shooting guards, sent shock waves yesterday throughout this country and much of Europe, where his career began. Petrovics close friend and Hall of Famer Dino Radja spoke toWallaand reflected on the moment he learned about the news of his passing, in a traffic accident on the evening of June 7, 1993, and how it still affects him to date. [19] Petrovi was one of only five Cibona players to get on the score sheet that day. "I can only remember him as a In 2007, he was posthumously inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. Petrovic, 28, was killed the day after he played for his native Croatia in Cibona won the game, by a score of 8778, and the win brought the club their first top-tier level European Champions Cup title. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. When he found Petrovic, who was out on the floor shooting, the two discussed the women, with Petrovic being very curious about them. Petrovic was killed instantly Monday when the car in which he was riding slammed into a trailer truck on a rain-slick road in Germany. At the end of reading the pre-written statement, Reed said To me, its like losing a son to the reporters present. Petrovic was killed Monday on a rain-drenched highway near Munich, Germany, when a car driven by his girlfriend spun out of control and slammed into a truck. best shooters and its top European star. Gordon was finishing the third year of a four-year, $80 million deal he signed with Orlando. With her friend since departing, Szalantzy spent most of her time with Petrovic, the two exploring the sights of the big city. Stunned Nets officials, including Willis Reed, the general manager, and Coach Chuck Daly held a short news conference yesterday to talk about the death of Petrovic, the team's leading scorer in the 1992-93 season and a player considered to be one of the most talented and hardest working in the league. (Petrovics attorney Nick Goyak remembers once such instance after the season finished where Petrovic, at home in Zagreb, missed a flight to Germany because his mother, Biserka, did not wake him in time. On 7 June 1993, Petrovi's career and life were cut short, after he died in a car accident, at the age of 28. On the rain-drenched Autobahn 9, he was a passenger in a car that was cut off by a semi-truck at Denkendorf near Ingolstadt in the German state of Bavaria. In the 198586 European Champions Cup (EuroLeague) season, Petrovi scored a total of 555 points in 15 games played, for a scoring average of 37.0 points per game. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The agent for Petrovic, Warren LeGarie, said that a funeral service would be held in Croatia, probably in Zagreb, either on Friday or Monday. So Denver was aware of the market to extend Gordon. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., JUNE 7 -- New Jersey Nets star guard Drazen Petrovic, among the top shooters in the National Basketball Association and a third-team all-NBA selection this season, was killed instantly today when a car he was riding in smashed head-on into a truck near Frankfurt, Germany, his agent said. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). The NBA's Portland Trail Blazers had already used their third-round draft pick on the young Petrovi, in the 1986 NBA draft, but he had decided to postpone his departure to the United States. [16] In total, he scored 1,202 points in 91 games played with ibenka in the Yugoslav first division, for a scoring average of 13.2 points per game. Petrovi's national team debut came at the age of 15, at the Under-18 Balkan Championship in Turkey, where the Yugoslavia junior team won the bronze. Making matters worse, the Blazers already had a full rotation of guards, with a starting backcourt of Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter, and with veteran Danny Young as a reserve. Aleksandar Petrovic, Drazens older brother, described the impact his death had on the country of Croatia. On 14 October 1987, Petrovi scored 62 points in a 198788 FIBA Kora Cup season game against the Finnish League club KTP Kotka. Her name, Petrovic told him, was Klara Szalantzy. He made When rescue workers arrived on the scene of the crash, they immediately noticed two women showing signs of life and the ambulances quickly rushed them to the nearest hospital, which was the Hospital of Eichstatt. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Life is so precious.". Chuck was as unflappable as anyone I ever dealt with, with basketball, with games, injuries, Brennan remembered. So Booth just wanted to hear it one more time, that Gordon was indeed the player to put the Nuggets over the top. He brought up the topic of Szalantzy. I couldn't believe it. Odds and lines subject to change. Among the top 13 scorers in the NBA that season, he was the only one not invited. That season, in Europe's top-level club competition, which eventually became known as the EuroLeague, Petrovi scored a total of 463 points in 15 games played, for a scoring average of 30.9 points per game. In 1983, the 18-year-old Petrovi hit two free throws in ibenka's victory over Bosna Sarajevo in the final playoff game of the Yugoslavian League's 198283 season's club championship. The following morning, Tuesday, June 8, the New Jersey Nets held a press conference at the Meadowlands Arena. When Dzanan was drafted, he had special fillings because Drazen played there [Nets]. Drazenis his first book. In Croatia, where Petrovic was considered nothing short of a national treasure, his death was grieved by family, friends and countless others. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ His coach briefly couldnt bring himself to refer to basketball star Drazen Petrovic in the past tense. 46 votes, 13 comments. We talked about his family a lot in his restaurant, and he enjoyed his friends and he enjoyed the game of basketball. This browser does not support getting your location. On the autobahn, there are very few speed limits located in certain sections of the highway. However, in one of the biggest upsets in Yugoslav League history, despite having a double-digit lead in the second half, Cibona ended up losing game 3 in double overtime with Petrovi fouling out during first overtime with 39 points scored. Three people in a vehicle, and three very different results, Edebal said. Eligibility restrictions apply. His girlfriend, Klara Szalantzy, 23, was driving. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Draen Petrovi (Croatian pronunciation: [dren ptroit]; 22 October 1964 - 7 June 1993) was a Yugoslav and Croatian professional basketball player. Because he did everything for the right reasons.. He was aware of the type of young women that often sought the company of athletes or celebrities, and carefully tried to decipher exactly the intentions of the young girls. But on the autobahn you can go as fast as a car goes. According to the accident report, Edebal said her friend was driving at 180 kilometres per hour (112 miles per hour). He was a raw talent when he arrived in New Jersey, but he quickly developed into one of the league's top offensive players. He struggled at first to adjust to the faster pace of the American game, but his rise was meteoric and he was coming off his best NBA season. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Drazen Petrovics death stunned not just the teams he was a part of but various leagues across the world. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. That was the last time I spoke to him. I dont know if shes Croatian or German?. Earlier reports indicated that there was only one woman in the car and that she, too, had been killed. By Chris Milholen @CMilholenSB Jun 6, 2020, 8:31pm EDT Share Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images Twenty-seven years ago Sunday, Drazen Petrovic was tragically. Amidst some 300 litres of diesel that had spilled out of a dent in the truck sat a crumpled Golf. With both ibenka and Cibona, Petrovi's career scoring numbers in the Yugoslav First Federal League were 5,113 points scored, in 197 games played, for a career scoring average of 26.0 points per game. "It was a complete shock to me when I got the news," said Nets teammate But, on the autobahn, you can go as fast as a car goes.. He mentioned to Miocic that he planned on visiting Szalantzy in Germany sometime in the summer. After the game, Petrovic and Miocic joined Szalantzy and her friend for dinner at the Houlihans restaurant, which was close to the arena and frequented by Nets players after home games. He was immediately given a role on the floor, with 20.5 minutes per game. The center features 1,000 memorabilia items and a video of his basketball highlights. [47], The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, marked the first summer Olympics featuring the independent Croatia, and Petrovi was the leader of the Croatian national basketball team at the Olympic basketball tournament. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7192736/drazen-petrovic. Add to your scrapbook. His death also was felt in Phoenix, site of tonight's first game of the NBA We were not able to play at all. On top of his career-highs, Petrovic shot career-highs in both from three (.449) and from the field (.518). Petrovi also scored 36 points in the league's 1985 Final against Real Madrid. Derrick Coleman. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? [28] Petrovi led Cibona to the Finals of the Kora Cup, where they lost to the Spanish League club Real Madrid. Search above to list available cemeteries. Petrovic, with his season winding up in New Jersey, called her often, at one time sending his young friend flowers for a special occasion. Try again later. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He was a good person and a great player. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Drazen Petrovic I found on Findagrave.com. 0 cemeteries found in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, City of Zagreb (Grad Zagreb), Croatia. For weeks I just thought about it. "Petro and I were starting to get really close. But this was devastating. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). At the time he was wearing a gold watch on his left arm, which stopped precisely when his life didthe short hand on the five, the long hand on the twenty. From Frankfurt they traveled along autobahn three, east to Nuremburg, before heading south along autobahn nine towards Munich. Daly addressed the conflicts the two had but how he did everything for the right reasons. Petrovi was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. One, every problem in Yugoslavia can be taken care of with the right amount of money, and two, if Draen leaves, every other player under 28 will be leaving and it'll be chaos. In the 198687 FIBA European Cup Winners Cup season, Petrovi scored a total of 270 points in 8 games played, for a scoring average of 33.8 points per game. On 6 December 1992, he was named MVP of the Week. [citation needed], On 6 December 1984, in the 198485 season of Europe's top-level club competition, the FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague), Petrovi scored 44 points in a game against the Spanish League club Real Madrid. Petrovic had called the number that was given to him, and it was answered in a hotel in New York, where Szalantzy and a friend were staying. Its certainly possible, but there are so many factors that have to go in the Lakers favor for them to land Irving, I trust Ime [Udoka] with that. [27], An excellent club season with Real Madrid was topped by Petrovi's 1989 accomplishment with the Yugoslavia national team: at the EuroBasket in Zagreb, the young Yugoslavian team went all the way, defeating Greece more than comfortably in the championship game. Petrovic's attorney, Nicholas Goyak, told the Associated Press from his home in McMinnville, Ore., that he had spoken to members of Petrovic's family who confirmed Petro had been killed in the accident.A stunned Nets Coach Chuck Daly said tonight: "What a tragedy. Szalantzy, as promised, waited in her car at the Frankfurt airport, where she planned to drive Petrovic to Munich. There was an error deleting this problem. [2], In 1993, Petrovi's jersey number 3 was retired by the Nets, and the Draen Petrovi Basketball Hall was named after him in his honor. Daly concluded his statements reminding the media even for a young man like Drazen Petrovic, who was coming off a career year and had a bright future ahead of him, nothing is promised. Because he did everything for the right reasons.. "But when it strikes home and takes a guy in the prime of his life -- a great athlete like Draz -- it's a little bit more shocking. He really fought us," Daly said. [38] Petrovi was made a starter for the 199192 season, his first full season with the Nets. Eventually, Petrovi won his second straight FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague) title with Cibona, as he scored 22 points in the league's 1986 Final, in which Cibona defeated the USSR Premier League club algiris Kaunas, which starred the legendary Arvydas Sabonis. Petrovic was a high-scoring guard for the NBAs Nets. [27] It was the third straight European-wide club championship for Petrovi and Cibona. The Volkswagen Golf was left pushed into the right side of the truck and both front doors were forcefully pushed open. I had a good relationship with Drazen. Family members linked to this person will appear here. At the press conference, the Nets head coach spoke about Petrovics aggressive and play hard attitude when they played the 1992 Dream Team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The driver swerved his truck off the road and broke through the median barrier that separated the northbound and southbound traffic. One of the top pure shooters in the NBA, he led the Nets in scoring two seasons ago and was second last season. The league's championship was then awarded to Bosna, after ibenka refused to play in a rematch.[15]. Reed fielded several questions; his answers became less and less detailed before finally his voice broke, deciding he could no longer continue. Memory of Olympics. After his string of very successful seasons with Cibona Zagreb, Petrovi needed new challenges that Cibona and the Yugoslav First Federal League could no longer offer him. During the 2012 Three Point Shootout, New Jersey Nets guard Anthony Morrow wore Petrovi's jersey in the latter's honor. On 7 February 1986, Petrovi scored 55 points in a Yugoslav Cup game against Union Olimpija Ljubljana. He addressed the occasional conflicts they had, but concluded that a coach could ultimately overlook those matters due to the passion, commitment and intent Petrovic played with. Hopefully, a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way He was the FIBA World Championship MVP in 1986 and the FIBA EuroBasket MVP in 1989. Gambling Problem? cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. However, the Nets viewed that stance as a bargaining ploy. Tracy McGrady, former NBA great, shared his perspective on the Boston Celtics young core in a recent episode of WHATS BURNIN with Rachel Nichols, pushing for their continuity and underlining the dynamic duos invaluable potential and championship dreams. In the 198788 Yugoslav FFL season, Petrovi scored a total of 860 points in 24 games played, for a scoring average of 35.8 points per game. It left her no other option but to leave her own number to be forwarded to Petrovic, to call if he chose. Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinarily young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball, Stern said. held a news conference to talk about the tragedy. So we've had some great battles in the past and unfortunately, they were short battles. He scored 29 of the 44 points in the second half of the game. Croatia and led his country to a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in he wasn't chosen as the first European to play in the All-Star Game. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. However, he did not receive an invitation to the 1993 All-Star game. Legendary Croatian-born NBA player Draen Petrovi will be portrayed in Danilo erbedija's upcoming biopic film "Higher Force - The Drazen Petrovic Story" (working title). On the wet road, it left the car in a very vulnerable position. I really respect him because he worked very, very hard. Thats where the name of the coffee bar, Amadeus, came from. (2007). "I got weak," Anderson said of hearing the news. He was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Reed, the Nets' general manager, said it was like "losing a son. A day later Petrovic called Miocic in the early afternoon, as he usually did on game days, asking if he would be at the game that night. On 14 March 1989, in the 198889 Cup Winners' Cup Final against the Italian League club Snaidero Caserta, Petrovi tied his previous best scoring performance in a European-wide club competition with 62 points.[29]. Petrovic was characteristically very comfortable with his fans, often accommodating them not only with an autograph but also a photo and a conversation, but even then there was a limitation to his interaction and involvement. The immensely popular Petrovic helped Croatia to a silver medal in last summer's Olympics in Barcelona. [65], Two moments of Petrovi with the two national teams where he played: (left) with the, tampabay.com/archive/1993/06/10/croatia-mourns-a-hero/. Hes one of the best players Ive ever seen, Walla. Petrovic was riding in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagon Golf with two women. [46], Overall, Petrovi represented Yugoslavia's senior national team in 155 games, in which he scored a total of 3,258 points, for a career scoring average of 21.0 points per game. His highest single-game point tally came against Estonia, on 31 May 1993 (48 points). Try again later. Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from'Drazen: The remarkable life and legacy of the Mozart of Basketball,'written byToddSpehr. Sorry! Miocic sat there that evening and wondered about the situation. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The young man regularly played for the Yugoslavia national team in the Balkan Championships, also winning gold with the junior team and silver with the senior team. With Petrovic's death, the Nets lost their biggest offensive threat and a player every teammate respected and liked. I need to see my family.' Ben DuBose: Kevin Porter Jr. on the potential of major roster changes this offseason: After spending half a year with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, superstar guard. In his new book, Basketball Beyond Borders: The Globalization of The NBA, Chris Milholen looks at the role Drazen Petrovic played in making the league international. It was not a relationship. They remained in contact after Szalantzy departed for Europe. Finals between the Suns and the Chicago Bulls. And I kind of feel that way about Draen. You can't get mad at a player like that, no way, Daly said. I dont understand why would you get rid of two guys that have played for NBA Championship, went to four Eastern Conference Finals At some point, these guys are gonna raise a banner, T-Mac stated, This is a difficult question to answer, but if I had to peg a percentage, Id go low somewhere in the 10 to 15 percent range. To me, its like losing a son, he told the handful of reporters there. WebRosenthal Lisa Law Offices Website (818) 348-2821 6016 Fallbrook Ave Woodland Hills, CA 91367 CLOSED NOW 4. According to Edebal, Szalantzy was driving way too fast at the time. It was not uncommon for Petrovic to ask Miocic for practical advice, for Miocic was four years older and something of a protective figure in his life. See the article in its original context from. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. [39] His determination, hard work and aggressive on-court demeanor established him as a team leader. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Against the Dream Team, coached by Daly, Petrovic ran back with his hands In 2006, the 13th anniversary of Petrovi's death was marked with the opening of the Draen Petrovi Memorial Center in Zagreb, dedicated to his life and achievements, with ten themed galleries of multimedia content outlining his entire career and a four-meter-high (13ft) statue of Draen in shooting position in front of it. You can order 'Drazen,' which comes out Monday, here. Since his death, the European wave has taken the NBA by storm as the likes of Toni Kukoc, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, and Luka Doncic are just a few of the many players from overseas that have . ", NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a statement that read: "Drazen was an [1], Seeking a bigger arena after his career start in Europe, Petrovi joined the NBA in 1989, as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. driven by his girlfriend slammed into a truck on a German highway, the Nets According to the report of the Ingolstadt police, that afternoon a truck broke through the Autobahn median; the driver was trying to avoid a collision with a personal vehicle in his own lane and lost control of the truck, crashing through the median barrier and finally coming to a stop and blocking all three lanes of traffic going in the opposite direction. Petrovic had earned a starring role on the Yugoslav team, which dominated non-NBA basketball in the 1980s. Still, today Dzanan has a lot of friends who played with Drazen in the past. He was my idol. He also played for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Petrovi was the tournament's second leading scorer and Most Valuable Player. He wasn't nervous; he came at me as hard as I came at him. With Cibona, Petrovi again won the Yugoslav National Cup title in 1988. Petrovi was pressured to join the NBA, by the Trail Blazers, who had drafted him 60th overall in 1986. 1 Threat. The other four were eighteen-year-old Draen Anzulovi with 16 points, eighteen-year-old Vladimir Rizman with 14 points, nineteen-year-old Ivo Naki with 12 points, and Ivan otarec with 4 points.[19]. The organization and operations of the center have been provided by the Draen Petrovi Foundation, which is led by Petrovi's family. After playing mostly off the bench that year, Petrovi experienced a breakthrough following a trade to the New Jersey Nets. "To be honest, it's weird, it feels like he's still here," Dudley said by telephone from his home in California. In the 198182 Yugoslav FFL season, he scored 392 points in 24 games, for an average of 16.3 points per game. [42] For the second season in a row he shot 45% from the three-point arc. The police in Germany said yesterday that Petrovic was killed at approximately 5:20 P.M. local time, or late morning in New York. At the time of the crash, he was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown in the direction of the truck, causing him to receive deadly head trauma. Drazen was a large part in completing that Nets team, Lewis said. In not wearing a seatbelt, the force threw Petrovic straight in the direction of the truck, the impact causing significant head trauma. With whatever weve got right now, whoever comes in, whoever stays Im with it. unable to refer to Petrovic in the past tense. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous. He made that team a dangerous team and one that I am convinced would have been a contender long-term if we had the chance to see Drazens career unfolded the way it should have.. When Miocic arrived at the Meadowlands Arena that night he was in and around his usual quarters; the Nets provided him a pass that allowed access to the locker room and the corridors. Following the tournament, Petrovic decided to drive back to Croatia with his new girlfriend, Klara Szalantzy, and her friend Hilal Edebal, rather than fly with the team back to Zagreb. The press conference room was pin drop quiet. That rendered their entire men's first team roster ineligible for the Yugoslav First Federal League's regular season opening game, and forced them to instead field players for the game from their youth systems. Olimpija Ljubljana had failed to fulfill their player registration administrative obligations in time for the game. The coach said he gained a great deal of respect for Petrovic in the Summer Olympics at Barcelona, Spain, last summer, when Daly coached the United States team against Petrovic and the Croatian national team in the gold-medal game. Consequently, the reigning La Gazzetta dello Sport Euroscar European Player of the Year saw limited playing time. I called Mirko Novosel, who confirmed it was true. [17] The 112 points scored was the most points ever scored in a single game in the history of the Yugoslav First Federal League. Never in my life did I sit on the bench and I dont intend to do that in Portland. Croatian and friend, tennis star Goran Ivanisevic. 3 New Jersey Nets jersey and the watch that stopped when he died in a car crash. That night, it was thunderstorm and raining hard. Petrovic was only 28 years old when he passed. My mom called me and informed me. Seconds later, the Volkswagen Golf carrying a sleeping Petrovi in the passenger seat crashed into the truck, and Petrovic was ejected from the vehicle. Each and every day in practice he would be the first guy to come and the last guy to leave the gym. Draen Petrovi (Croatian pronunciation:[dren ptroit]; 22 October 1964 7 June 1993) was a Yugoslav and Croatian professional basketball player. This guy is going to be your missing piece. Following an easy opening game win, Petrovi controversially sat out game 2 away in Zadar, ostensibly due to a pre-game warm-up injury, leading to accusations of tanking out of desire to win the title on home court in front of their own fans. Drazen Petrovic's No. [24] The 51 points scored was also his personal career-high scored in a single EuroLeague game. He got through a pre-written statement, his head leaving the paper but once or twice, his voice trailing off on occasion as he held back tears. There is death all the time. While starting for the Nets, he became one of the league's best shooting guards. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. THE LATE GREAT DRAZEN PETROVIC ONCE scored 112 points in a single game. But I know I can't. 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