Ahead of their game against the Chicago Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets honored the legacy of Croatian basketball legend Dražen Petrović.
NBA’s Brooklyn Nets paid tribute to basketball icon Dražen Petrović on Monday night for their retro-night during the Chicago Bulls match (104:87). The Nets recalled Dražen and everything he had done for the famous New York team, reports Gol.hr on February 27, 2018.
The @BrooklynNets remember Drazen Petrovic. pic.twitter.com/uYpItYjw9A
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2018
Dražen's mother, Biserka, was an honorary guest of the game which saw a tribute video by the Nets to the Croatian basketball player. The Nets also shared 10,000 figurines of the player.
"He was the one and only. His legacy has done a lot for European basketball players today. Dražen and basketball were very related. I'm proud of my son and the Nets, and I really appreciate all of this,” said Biserka Petrović just before Brooklyn and Chicago met at the Barclays Center.
Drazen's mother, Biserka Petrovic, will be making her first appearance at Barclays Center tonight
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 26, 2018
Read More » https://t.co/rUsttERhb0 pic.twitter.com/r8IIJVUKUm
ICYMI: The first 10K fans in attendance at tomorrow's game will receive a Starting Lineup Dražen Petrović figurine
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 25, 2018
Tickets » https://t.co/nyDPnvwY14 pic.twitter.com/pPeX3lxLmT
The Nets’ current coach Kenny Atkinson spent part of his career playing in Europe, where he first heard about Dražen Petrović.
"I never met him, and I did not work with him, but I heard stories about his dedication, 2 am trainings, about the countless shots he fired. He was known as a basketball addict and a big competitor. I think it's great to have proven that guys from there can not only be good players but leave a deep mark in this league,” Atkinson said.
“He did not fear the moment; he did not fear anything…He was great,” said one of today’s best, LeBron James.
Tonight, the @brooklynNets pay tribute to a basketball Icon: #Drazen ... Drazen Petrovic would take on all comers: "Every game we had a Drazen watch just to see what he did against everybody in the league." Clyde Drexler (@ChicagoBulls @BrooklyNets 7:30 pm ET NBA League Pass) pic.twitter.com/sRr4cBRqbl
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 26, 2018
The legendary Dirk Nowitzki, who is considered to be the best European basketball player ever to play in the NBA, also honored the Croatian legend.
"Everyone liked him in Europe. He was an icon and a legend, one of the best European basketball players ever. He was a competitor, a warrior and a fighter,” said Nowitzki.
Although Petrović’s life tragically ended in a car crash when he was only 28, his influence on the NBA and international basketball remained unquestionably high. And that's where his legacy lies, opening the door for European players to succeed in the NBA.
Shoutout to the @BrooklynNets for having a Drazen night. pic.twitter.com/LQv1XhHvvL
— Tom D (@tdobrezjr) February 26, 2018
Petrović played 195 matches and scored on average 19.5 points, with an impressive 51.1 percent shooting average, including a 43.1 percent average of three-pointers. He is considered to be the first European player to become the biggest star of an NBA team and one of the most effective three-point shooters ever to play in the league.
The Mozart of Basketball pic.twitter.com/lzs2t2RxpG
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 26, 2018
