We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Croatia.
Population: 4,06 mln
Players in the history of League: 19.
Full list of players: Marko Banic, Nemanja Bezbradica, Mario Delas, Andrija Zizic, Tomislav Zubcic, Kresimir Loncar, Verdan Nakic, Drago Pasalic, Darko Planinic, Zoran Planinic, Marko Popovic, Ivica Radic, Leon Radosevic, Zeljko Sakic, Domagoj Samac, Krunoslav Simon, Sime Spralja, Bruno Sundov, Marko Jagodic Kuridza.
In the history of the VTB United League there have been 19 Croatian players. Seasons and games spent leader is Marko Popovic (6 seasons and 97 games), average scoring leader is Tomislav Zubcic (11,3 points).
The most titled Croatian players in the history of competition are Zoran Planicic (1 gold, 1 silver medal) and Marko Popovic (2 silver and 2 bronze medals). Planicic is one of two VTB League players in ths history (Vitaly Fridzon as well) to win the championship with 2 different teams.
Moreover, there were 3 American players with Croatian citizenship in the history of League: Dontaye Draper (ex-Lokomotiv-Kuban), Oliver Lafayette (ex-Zalgiris) and Justin Hamilton (ex-VEF).
Today, two Croatian coaches work in the League – Zan Tabak (Zielona Gora) and Drazen Anzulovic (Enisey). Tabak has won an NBA title as a player and Euroleague 3 times, Anzulovic won Euroleague in 1986.
Basketball in Croatia
League: Hrvatski telekom Premijer liga
Founded: in 1991
Number of teams: 12
League’s web-site: https://www.hks-cbf.hr/
Croatian championship was founded in 1991, throughout the 29 year hisotry 5 different teams have won the title. The most titled team are Cibona (19 wins).
Today there are 12 teams playing in HT Premijer liga. Three of them represent Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and two are from Zadar. Apart from HT Premijer liga Croatian clubs play in Adriatic League: Cibona, Split and Zadar are playing in the first division, Gorica in the second.
Furthermore, Croatian clubs participate in Croatia Cup that is named for basketball legend Kresimir Cosic
In 1980-s Croatian teams succeeded in European competitions. In 1985 and 1986 Cibona won Euroleague, and since 1989 till 1991 Split had won the best European team title. Moreover, Zadar played in Euroleague semi-finals 2 times.
There are some VTB United League players and one Russian player among Croatian tournament champions. Former Russian National team center Evgeny Kisurin has been playing for Cibona Since 1996 till 1998 and became a 2-time Croatia champion.
Interesting fact
Croatian basketball legend Drazen Petrovic is the only player to score more than 110 points in an official game as an adult and play in the NBA. In October of 1985 in a game against Yugoslavia Petrovich scored 112 points, making 40 of 60 field goals, 10/20 threes and 22 of 22 free throws.
Croatian National team
FIBA rank: 14
FIBA members: since 1992
Achievements: Olympic Games silver (1992), World Cup bronze (1994), 2-time Eurobasket bronze (1993, 1995)
Before Croatia joined FIBA in 1992, the Croatians had been representing Yugoslavia at global events.
In the same 1992, Croatia with players like Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, Velimir Perasovic and Zan Tabak made its debut in the Olympic Games and reached the final game. In the final, the Amercian dream team beat Croatia 117:85 which is the worst Croatian loss in history as of today.
Over the next 3 years after Barcelona Olympics, Croatia took three consecutive third places: two bronze medals of Eurobasket and World Cup bronze. Croatia hasn’t won any Eurobasket, World Cup or Olympic medals since 1995.
In the last decade, their best results were 4th place in 2013 Eurobasket and 5th place in 2016 Olympics.
Croatia is ranked 14 by FIBA (10th among European teams).
Most famous Croatian players in history
Drazen Petrovic. World champion, Eurobasket champion, 2-time silver medalist of the Olympics, 2-time Euroleague champion, World Cup and Eurobasket MVP. 4 seasons in the NBA with 15.4 points per game. Member of FIBA’s 50 greatest players. In 1993, at the age of 28 died in automobile accident. New Jersey Nets retired his number (#3). In 2002, Petrovic was inducted in Basketball Hall of Fame and in FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Toni Kukoc. World champion, 2-time Eurobasket champion, 2-time Olympics silver medalist, 3-time NBA champion, 3-time Euroleague champion, 4-time Yugoslavia champion, champion of Italy, 3-time Euroleague Final Four MVP, World Cup and Eurobasket MVP. Member of FIBA 50 Greatest Players list and Euroleague 50 Greatest Contributors. Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Dino Radja. 2-time Eurobasket champion, 2-time silver medalist of the Olympics, 2-time Euroleague champion, and Euroleague Final Fourt MVP, 3-time Yugoslavia champion, 2-time Croatia champion and 2-time champion of Greece. Played for NBA’s Boston Celtics in 1993-1997 averaging 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Member of FIBA 50 Greatest Players list and Euroleague 50 Greatest Contributors. The second Croatian player to be inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame (2018).
Kresimir Cosic. Won the Olympics, World Cup (2 times), Eurobasket (3 times), Olympic silver medals (2 times), World Cup silver medals (2 times), Eurobasket (3 times), Yugoslavian championship (6 times), Italian league (2 times), Cup of Yugoslavia (3 times), Eurobasket MVP (2 times). In 1980, named Athlete of the Year in Croatia. Member of FIBA 50 Greatest Players list, was the second non-American to be inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame (1996). Inductee of FIBA Hall of Fame (2007), member of Euroleague 50 Greatest Contributors list.
Velimir Perasovic. Won World Cup, Eurobasket, Olympic Games silver medal, Euroleague (3 times), Yugoslavian league (4 times), Cup of Yugoslavia (2 times), Spanish Cup and Croatian Cup, Spanish league MVP, Spanish league top scorer (5 times). As a coach he won Eurocup, Croatian league (2 times), Cups of Croatia, Spain and Turkey.
Worth mentioning: Zan Tabak, Stojko Vrankovic, Bojan Bogdanovic, Dario Saric.
Dmitry Kolinov
