In Memory

As basketball came of age across the European continent in the decades following World War II, the arrival of Drazen Dalipagic in the early 1970s signaled a monumental shift in the hierarchy of world basketball. Blessed with a soft shooting touch, a tall, lanky physique, and a mind obsessed with scoring, Dalipagic was one of the most dominant players across Europe’s top circuits for more than a decade.

Dalipagic, 73, passed away on January 25, 2025. Dalipagic leaves behind a basketball legacy dipped in gold, silver, and bronze, including the most coveted of all, Olympic gold at the 1980 Summer Games.

“Drazen Dalipagic helped bridge the basketball gap that existed between the United States and Europe,” said Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President & CEO John Doleva. “His storied career gave rise to a new era in the game. That impact is still felt today as the number of international players and coaches continues to increase across all levels of the game. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends, and fans that adored Drazen.”

Drazen Dalipagic was born on November 27, 1951 in Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was a late bloomer in basketball, his wiry frame a nice fit for the game, but still lacking the polish of older rivals ruthlessly fighting for a spot on the national team. At the age of 21, Dalipagic won his first of three European championships for Yugoslavia. That experience gave the young Dalipagic and his teammates the confidence, know-how, and desire to compete at the highest level. In 1976, Dalipagic helped Yugoslavia to the first of three consecutive medal finishes at the Olympics. The crowning achievement was the 1980 gold medal won in Moscow that included the upset of the host Soviet team in the semifinals.

Dalipagic was one of the top stars in European basketball for more than a decade. Three times he was honored as the Euroscar Player of the Year. He won 12 medals for the Yugoslav national team including two bronze, one silver, and one gold at the FIBA World Championships. He was one of the greatest scorers of his generation; he often led the league in points and set a personal high-water mark with 70 in a single game for Reyer Venice.

Drazen Dalipagic was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the Class of 2004.