'Drazen: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of the Mozart of Basketball' book review

Drazen - Todd Spehr

Todd Spehr’s “Drazen: the Life and Legacy of the Mozart of Basketball,” details the life of European basketball pioneer Drazen Petrovic. Spehr captures the winning spirit and tenacity that Petrovic displayed throughout his career. Although Americans only know Petrovic by his two notable years as a key contributor to the New Jersey Nets, his legacy stretches out to be far greater than what he is remembered to be in the United States.

Showing an unparalleled desire to hone his basketball skills from a young age, Drazen Petrovic laboriously sculpted a legendary career in the solitude of an empty basketball court in his hometown Sibenka.

"There is in Sibenka one boy who will be better than 'Kicha' [Dragan Kicanovic] and me ... He is called Drazen Petrovic. Remember the name," said his Yugoslavian club coach Zoran Slavnic.

Petrovic became Yugoslavia’s best player early in his career. Petrovic’s success in Yugoslavian basketball allowed him to change the rules for Yugoslavian athletes of the future. By threatening to disqualify himself from international competition, he managed to enter the Spanish league where he could comfortably transition to the NBA.

“I will go one day to the United States, with the professionals,” he told El Pais. “I just know that no European player has won there. I’ll be the first and nobody can stop me.”

Petrovic was drafted in 1986 by the Portland Trail Blazers, but he did not join the NBA until the 1989-90 NBA season after the Blazers bought out the remaining two years of his contract with Madrid. Petrovic was limited to the bench in his two seasons with the Trail Blazers, as he played on a very talented Portland team. Petrovic grew to be very unhappy with his limited role and demanded a trade in the middle of the 1990-91 season. Portland obliged, trading him to the New Jersey Nets.

It wasn’t so easy for Petrovic transitioning to life in the United States. He was emotionally in pain due to worrying about his family in Croatia. He was also troubled by his teammates reluctance to accept him as one of their leaders. He was driven to become the first European star player to earn his teammates respect.

As Drazen developed on the Nets, he sought the confidence which he had exuded in Euro tournaments. It was in his play against the top NBA talents that he displayed his trademark tenacity. His ability to fearlessly stand up against the greatest opponents earned him the respect of legends such as Reggie Miller.

“One shooter to the other, I envied his ability," Miller said in his autobiography, "I Love Being the Enemy."

Petrovic’s path to NBA stardom ended suddenly on June 7th, 1993. While traveling on the Autobahn in Germany, Petrovic’s car crashed into a truck. Traveling without a seat belt, Petrovic did not stand a chance; he passed at the age of 28.

Spehr’s deep and detailed work is evident in his complete coverage of Drazen’s life in Europe, his success on the Croatian National team, and his accomplishments in the NBA. His prosperity has paved the way for other Europeans such as Peja Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki to thrive in the NBA. His legacy can still be remembered at the Drazen Petrovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia.

Contributed by Michael Stern, Bruce Mayfield, Harry Smith, and Mohammed Kabir.