The Mozart Of Basketball The Remarkable Life And Legacy Of Draen Petrovic Todd Spehr by Todd Spehr 9781613219188, 1613219180 instant download after payment.

"[A] thorough, well-researched tome that captures the spirit of one of European basketball's legendary figures . . .with clarity and reverence." —Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune
Dražen Petrovic was born on October 22, 1964, in Šibenik, Croatia. Learning basketball at an early age from his older brother, Aleksandar, Dražen was a natural. He began his professional career at the age of fifteen, playing for the national team, where he began his rise through the European circuit.
In 1986, Dražen was drafted in the third round (60th overall) by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Deciding to play a few more years in Europe, he did not come to the US until the beginning of the 1989-1990 season. Dražen, along with a handful of other players, were part of the first groups of Europeans to break into the NBA, paving the way for future stars.
In the summer of 1993, after his best season in the NBA playing for the New Jersey Nets, Dražen traveled to Poland to help his country qualify for the upcoming FIBA European Basketball Championship. Deciding against flying with his team back to Croatia, he instead chose to drive there with his girlfriend. On June 7, 1993, only a few months before his twenty-ninth birthday, Dražen Petrovic died in a traffic collision in Denkendorf, Germany. Thousands attended the funeral in his hometown, and the New Jersey Nets retired his number 3. This biography is a tribute to his passion, determination, and spirit that continue to influence not only his home country, but international basketball as a whole.
"His contribution to the history of our game was gigantic." —Rick Carlisle, head coach, Indiana Pacers