Drazen Dalipagic
(1951-2025)
Hall of Fame Induction:
2004
Card Shown:
Drazen Dalipagic Sticker
Position: SF
Height: 6’5″
bb
bb
Drazen Dalipagic was a top scorer who led his club and national teams to many top finishes during his career. Dalipagic led his Yugoslavian teams to three European championships, three Olympic medals, and four World Championship medals. Drazen once scored 70 points in a game and averaged over 30 points per game for most of his career. He was a tremendous athlete whose leaping ability and dynamic dunks earned him the nickname, “Sky Jumper.” Drazen almost became the first European player to play in the NBA.
Awards and Honors
- Drazen led Yugoslavia to medals in three consecutive Olympic Games, winning the silver medal in Montreal in 1976, the gold medal in the Soviet Union in 1980, and the bronze medal in Los Angeles in 1984. He averaged 17.8 points, 24.4 points, and 22.7 points respectively in those three Olympic Games.
- Dalipagic led his Yugoslavian team to three European championships in Barcelona in 1973, Belgrade in 1975, and Liege in 1977.
- Drazen was honored with the European Player of the Year award in 1977, 1978, and 1980.
- The Yugoslavian team, led by Dalipagic, won medals in four World Championships. They won the silver medal in Puerto Rico in 1974, the gold medal in the Philippines in 1978, the bronze medal in Colombia in 1982, and the bronze medal in Spain in 1986. Drazen was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1978 World Championships.
- Drazen was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Points of Interest
- Drazen did not begin playing basketball until 1971 when he was 19 years old and yet he became one of the greatest players of his generation.
- During his time playing in the Italian League, Dalipagic scored 5o points in a game 15 times and finished his Italian career with a record scoring average of 34.7 points per game.
- Drazen played for a number of club teams during his career including Partizan Belgrade, Venezia, Real Madrid, and Verona.
- After his playing career ended, Dalipagic coached for Gorizia from 1992-1996, MZT Skopje from 1997-1998, and Astra Banka Belgrade from 2000-2001.
- Fresh off an impressive performance in the Olympic games in 1976, Drazen almost joined the Boston Celtics in the NBA. However, he was unwilling to surrender his amateur status which allowed him to compete for Yugoslavia in international competition.
- During his playing career, Dalipagic teamed with two other international Hall of Fame players, Kresimir Cosic and Drazen Petrovic.
Statistics
Drazen Dalipagic Olympic Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com