Dražen Petrović: The Mozart of Basketball
Šibenik, a charming city located in a scenic bay along the Krka River on Croatia’s central Adriatic coast, is renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. It boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Cathedral of St. James and St. Nicholas Fortress, and is also the birthplace of Dražen Petrović, one of the greatest basketball players in both Croatia and the world.
Affectionately referred to as the “Croatian Mozart” for his extraordinary skills, Dražen Petrović began his basketball journey in Šibenik before moving to clubs like Cibona, Real Madrid, and playing in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Jersey Nets. His reputation as one of the league’s elite shooters and his fierce competitive spirit helped pave the way for European players into the NBA. Petrović also had a remarkable national team career, showcasing his talent with the former Yugoslavia before captaining the Croatian team, which won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. A prolific scorer, he frequently accumulated 40, 50, or even 60 points in a single game. Tragically, his dazzling career was cut short by a fatal car accident in 1993.
Today, the impact of Dražen Petrović on Croatian sports is monumental. His life and career continue to inspire through numerous books, theater productions, films, and sculptures. In Šibenik, near the sports hall where he first played, a statue depicts him seated on a bench with a basketball at his feet, attracting visitors from around the globe. The Museum and Memorial Centre Dražen Petrović opened in Zagreb in 2006, the result of a collaboration between the Dražen Petrović Foundation, the Croatian government, the City of Zagreb, and the Croatian Sports Museum. In 2023, filming began for the feature film Something Stronger Than Me – the Story of Dražen Petrović, with a premiere planned for 2024 to coincide with what would have been his 60th birthday.
Šibenik, where Petrović began his professional career with the club Šibenka, is also known as “The City of Children,” hosting the esteemed International Children’s Festival for nearly 60 years. Notably, the 63rd edition of the festival in July 2023 concluded with the premiere of Dražen, a play that portrays the young basketball star’s journey. The production highlights his remarkable determination and work ethic, illustrating how a dedicated boy reached the pinnacle of international basketball. He famously remarked, “I had respect for talent until I was 16. After that, I was inclined to go along with hard work.”