Inside The Nets

Brooklyn Nets Honor Drazen Petrovic on Anniversary of His Tragic Passing

The Brooklyn Nets paid tribute to franchise legend Drazen Petrovic on the anniversary of his untimely death, remembering his impact on the team and the game.
Kyler Fox|
06/10/1990; Portland, Oregon USA; Trailblazers' Drazen Petrovic shoots the ball while being guarded by Pistons'' Joe Dumars during game three of the 1990 NBA Finals at The Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Archie -Detroit Free Press
06/10/1990; Portland, Oregon USA; Trailblazers' Drazen Petrovic shoots the ball while being guarded by Pistons'' Joe Dumars during game three of the 1990 NBA Finals at The Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Archie -Detroit Free Press | Detroit Free Press-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services LLC

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Brooklyn Nets

32 years ago today, the NBA lost one of greatest shooters in league history.

Drazen Petrovic, the star of the then-New Jersey Nets, tragically died in a traffic accident in the summer of 1993. Today, the Nets' official X account posted a tribute to the late shooting guard.

"I think it was huge because, obviously, at the time, no internet, right?" head coach Jordi Fernandez said, wearing a SLAM t-shirt with a photo of Petrovic on the front. "I remember when [Petrovic] played for Madrid, probably was in the late 80s, and I remember that for sure."

Petrovic played in New Jersey for three seasons and enjoyed global success. He's recognized as a pioneer for international basketball talent, led Yugoslavia to gold medals at the European and World Championships, and a silver at the 1988 Olympics and was a 2002 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

"Fighting the adversity I think it was something that we all believed and knew how good he was. Then he comes to the NBA, and sometimes it takes you time to break through." Fernandez continued. "But at home, we're all like, 'he's one of the best ever.'"

Fernandez isn't alone in his praise of Petrovic. Reggie Miller, another all-time great NBA two guard, has spoken glowingly of Petrovic for years.

"To this day I tell people he was my hardest cover, and I hated him. Drove me absolutely mad with his antics, because he was so good at scoring the basketball right in my face and talking junk right in my ear," Miller said back in 2022. "He was my greatest rival."

Over three decades removed from the devastating tragedy, Petrovic's legacy lives on through his opponents, the organizations he played for and a dedicated fanbase.

"It tells you how life works sometimes," Fernandez continued. "You still believe in yourself, he believed in himself. Then he got a different home that worked very well for him. Right spot, the right time. Kept believing, and [Petrovic] did amazing things.

Petrovic's iconic number three jersey was retired by New Jersey shortly after his death, entrenching the Croation star in Nets and NBA history forever.

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Kyler Fox
KYLER FOX

Kyler is a staff writer for Brooklyn Nets on SI, where he covers all things related to the team. He is also the managing editor of The Torch, St. John's University's independent student-run newspaper.

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