gold star for USAHOF

30. Drazen Petrovic

30. Drazen Petrovic

Drazen Petrovic was considered one of the best European players ever and he lit up the Euro League for years.  When he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, Petrovic’s skills had not yet translated into the NBA game but a mid-season trade in 1991/92 and he saw his minutes increase.  He would become a starter the next year where he would be the Nets’ starting Shooting Guard.  He would average 20.6 Points and 22.3 Points per Game respectively, which was good enough to put him in the top twenty in that statistic.

While this rank may seem low, he did not play 200 Games for the franchise and his overall advanced numbers were not great, a reflection that beyond his great shooting his game was not that balanced, though had he not died tragically in a car accident in Germany after the 1992/93 season we assume that too would have developed.  He would enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 based on his International accomplishments.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Shooting Guard
  • Acquired: Traded from the Portland Trail Blazers with a 1993 2nd Round Pick (which would be Kevin Thompson) as part of a three-team trade. The Denver Nuggets sent Terry Mills to New Jersey. Denver sent alter Davis and a 1992 2nd Round Pick (which would be Reggie Smith) to Portland. New Jersey sent Greg Anderson and a 1992 1st Round Pick (which would be Bryant Stith) 1/23/91.
  • Departed: Died in a car accident 6/7/93.
  • Games Played: 195
  • Per Game Averages: 33.7 MP
    .549 eFG%
     .846 FT%
    19.5 PTS
    2.8 RB
    2.9 AST
    1.2 STL
    0.1 BLK

    9 Playoff Games
    39.6 MP
    .521 eFG%
    .818 FT%
    19.4 PTS
    2.1 RB
    2.4 AST
    0.7 STL
    0.1 BLK
  • Advanced Stats: 16.5 PER
    .592 TS%
    5.1 VORP
    18.4 WS

    9 Playoff Games
    10.6 PER
    .559 TS%
    -0.2 VORP
    0.1 WS
  • Major Accolades and Awards: All-NBA Third Team (1993)

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