Dražen Dalipagic
Encyclopedia
Dražen Dalipagić , born in Mostar
, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia) is a retired Yugoslavian
basketball
player. He was enshrined as a player in the FIBA Hall of Fame
in 2007.
, and graduated from the Teachers College in Belgrade
. He started playing basketball at the age of 19 and two years later, in 1973, Dalipagić played the first of his 243 games that he would play between the years 1973 and 1986 with the Yugoslavian national basketball team
, winning the gold medal at the 1978 FIBA World Championship
and the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics Basketball Tournament
. As a member of the Yugoslavian national team, he also won three gold medals at the European Championships
. His four medals in the World Championships
(Silver, 1974 FIBA World Championship
; Gold, 1978 FIBA World Championship
; Bronze, 1982 FIBA World Championship
and 1986 FIBA World Championship
) is an all-time international basketball record. A three-time Olympian
, Dalipagić was instrumental in the Yugoslavian team's capturing the gold in the 1980 Olympics.
He was selected the best athlete of Yugoslavia in the year 1978, and Dalipagić is one of the most decorated athletes in Yugoslavian history. Dalipagić was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame
as a player on September 10, 2004. In 2007, he was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame
.
(1971–78, 1979–80, 1981–82) he won the European Player of the Year
Mr. Europa
award twice in the years 1977 and 1978, and the European Player of the Year Euroscar award in the year 1980. He is acclaimed as the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1978. In 1976, he led Partizan to the Yugoslav League title, and also to the FIBA Korać Cup
title in 1978. He also played for KK Crvena zvezda
in the 1990-91 season.
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia) is a retired Yugoslavian
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was enshrined as a player in the FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
in 2007.
Yugoslavian national team
Dražen, widely known by his nickname Praja, finished high school at the Technical School in MostarMostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, and graduated from the Teachers College in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. He started playing basketball at the age of 19 and two years later, in 1973, Dalipagić played the first of his 243 games that he would play between the years 1973 and 1986 with the Yugoslavian national basketball team
Yugoslavia national basketball team
The Yugoslavian national basketball team represented the Kingdom and socialist Yugoslavia. Its of governing body was the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia, whose seat was in Belgrade....
, winning the gold medal at the 1978 FIBA World Championship
1978 FIBA World Championship
The 1978 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Philippines from October 1 to 14, 1978.Rizal Memorial Coliseum at Manila and Araneta Coliseum at Quezon City, Metro Manila were the venues for the event.-Venues:...
and the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics Basketball Tournament
Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics was held from July 20 to July 30 at the Olympiiski Indoor Stadium and at the CSKA Sports Palace, both located in Moscow. Finals of both men's and women's events were held 30 July at the Olympiiski Indoor Stadium....
. As a member of the Yugoslavian national team, he also won three gold medals at the European Championships
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
. His four medals in the World Championships
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
(Silver, 1974 FIBA World Championship
1974 FIBA World Championship
The 1974 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Puerto Rico from July 3 to 14, 1974.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:-Final round:...
; Gold, 1978 FIBA World Championship
1978 FIBA World Championship
The 1978 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Philippines from October 1 to 14, 1978.Rizal Memorial Coliseum at Manila and Araneta Coliseum at Quezon City, Metro Manila were the venues for the event.-Venues:...
; Bronze, 1982 FIBA World Championship
1982 FIBA World Championship
The 1982 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Colombia from August 15 to 28 , 1982.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:-Final round:...
and 1986 FIBA World Championship
1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
) is an all-time international basketball record. A three-time Olympian
Basketball at the Summer Olympics
Basketball has been a Summer Olympics sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904 and 1932, both in the United States. Women's basketball was played in the Olympics only since 1976....
, Dalipagić was instrumental in the Yugoslavian team's capturing the gold in the 1980 Olympics.
He was selected the best athlete of Yugoslavia in the year 1978, and Dalipagić is one of the most decorated athletes in Yugoslavian history. Dalipagić was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
as a player on September 10, 2004. In 2007, he was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
.
Pro career
He was one of the most dominating players in Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s era and while playing for the pro club KK PartizanKK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
(1971–78, 1979–80, 1981–82) he won the European Player of the Year
European Basketball Player of the Year Awards
The European Basketball Player of the Year Awards are the three awards given out on a yearly basis to the best male European basketball player of the year. More specifically, those are the Mr. Europa award, which began in 1976, the Euroscar, established in 1979, and the FIBA Europe Player of the...
Mr. Europa
Mr. Europa
The Mister Europa European Player of the Year Award is an annual basketball award created in 1976 and given today by the panel of journalists of the Italian weekly magazine Superbasket. Its purpose is to praise the best European basketball player, regardless of where he plays in the world,...
award twice in the years 1977 and 1978, and the European Player of the Year Euroscar award in the year 1980. He is acclaimed as the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1978. In 1976, he led Partizan to the Yugoslav League title, and also to the FIBA Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
title in 1978. He also played for KK Crvena zvezda
KK Crvena zvezda
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name Crvena zvezda means Red Star and it's part of the Red Star Belgrade sports society ....
in the 1990-91 season.