Basketball mourns Dražen Dalipagić: basketball legend passes away at 73

Basketball mourns Dražen Dalipagić: basketball legend passes away at 73

The Partizan icon and Yugoslav basketball legend dies in Belgrade after a long illness

Dražen Dalipagić, affectionately known as “Praja,” passed away today in Belgrade at the age of 73. Born in Mostar on November 27, 1951, Dalipagić was one of the brightest stars in basketball history, a legend for Partizan Belgrade and the Yugoslav national team.

During his time with Partizan, from 1971 to 1980 and the 1981/82 season, Dalipagić won two Yugoslav league titles, a SFRJ Cup, and two Korać Cups. He remains the club’s all-time leading scorer with 8,278 points. Internationally, he won gold medals at the Olympics (1980), World Cup (1978), and EuroBasket (1973, 1975, 1977), amassing 243 appearances between 1973 and 1986.

Known for his immense talent and unique character, Dalipagić earned numerous accolades, including Mr. Europa in 1977 and 1978 and recognition as Europe’s best player three times. He also played in Italy and Spain for teams such as Real Madrid, Udine, Venice, and Verona, ending his career in 1991 with Crvena Zvezda.

Dalipagić leaves behind an indelible legacy in basketball and will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. Funeral details will be announced at a later date.

Post your comment