Legendary Serbian and Yugoslav basketball player Vlade Divac even three decades after his tragic death Dražen Petrović he recalls their last meeting in detail. The moment that marked the definitive break in their close friendship remains one of the most painful stories in European basketball. Hall of Famer and Pioneer of the NBA it’s in the podcast Byron Scott Fast Break openly spoke about the complexity of their relationship, which was brutally interrupted by the sea of war on the soil of the former commonwealth.
“It was a difficult period for all of us. We grew up together, and then politicians made horrible decisions that ignited a civil war. People started killing each other and suddenly you were forced to choose a side,” 56-year-old Divac explained the background of that time.
The fateful moment occurred in Portland when the Los Angeles Lakers visited Portland. Divac, who was used to their regular gatherings during away games, expected the usual invitation to lunch, but this time there was none. “Everybody came to the warm-up except him. I sensed that something was wrong,” recalls Divac.
First training, then dinner
When he finally confronted Petrović in the locker room, the response was short and cold. The Croatian giant explained to him that the situation at home was too difficult and that they would restore their relationship only when their passions calmed down. Divac didn’t take the explanation well: “I told him that I can’t have friends ‘for a certain period of time.’ That’s when we finished.”
Despite the bitter breakup, Divac brings to the fore Petrović’s incredible dedication to the sport, which remains an example for generations. “His work ethic was second to none. You can be talented and have a love for the game, but there is no success without hard work,” Divac emphasized. At the same time, he remembered an anecdote from their first seasons in the USA, when Petrović, during a short break in Los Angeles, insisted on training in the gym before they were even allowed to go out to dinner.
Dražen Petrović lost his life in a traffic accident in Germany in June 1993, only a year after he led Croatia to Olympic silver in Barcelona. Divac admits that the weight of the unspoken words still rests on his heart: “The tragedy happened too quickly.” I never got a chance to talk to him again. I found peace only in contact with his mother, brother and family. I don’t blame anyone, maybe I did something wrong myself unknowingly. It is difficult,” Divac concluded.
