Famous Yugoslavian Players

Basketball is definitely a phenomenon. It has reached many countries including Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia is fond of playing basketball and joining Olympics as well. Here is a brief background of the country, Yugoslavia was the idea for a single state for all South Slavic Intelligentsia and emerged in late 17th and gained prominence in the 19th century Illyrian Movement.

Enough with the background of Yugoslavia let us now proceed to the basketball’s famous Yugoslavian players. Who are they? Why are they famous?

Žarko Paspalj

First on the line which is one of the famous Yugoslavian players is Žarko he was born on March 27, 1996 a retired basketball player and the current vice president of the Serbian Olympic Committee. He was one of the Yugoslavian who was able to enter NBA (San Antonio Spurs).

He also played for Budućnost, Partizan, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Panionios BC, Paris Racing, Aris and Vitrus. He became famous for he was an automatic choice for the Yugoslac National team which will represent the country for two Olympics the World Championship and the European Championship.

Here are some of his achievements

1986/87 Yugoslav League champion with KK Partizan

1992/93 Greek League champion with Olympiacos

1993/94 Greek League champion with Olympiacos

1993/94 Greek National Cup winner with Olympiacos

1996/97 French League champion with PSG Racing Basket

1997/98 Greek National Cup winner with Aris Thessaloniki

Milos Babic

Milos is considered one of the famous Yugoslavian players because he was able to play in NBA for Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Standing 7 feet tall he played as a center.

He was drafted in the 1990 NBA Draft by the team Phoenix Suns and on that same day the franchise traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Stefano Rusoni and Italian national. During his college years he was able to play for 3 seasons (1987-1990) for the Tennesse Technological University and there he showed his skills in basketball.

Marko Jaric

He is a one of the famous Yugoslavian players of basketball because of his achievements, because his father is a known Yugoslavian basketball player before and because he is the husband of a famous Brazilian model, Adriana Lima. He married Adriana on year 2008 of June 12 they were engaged after Jaric decided to propose to Adriana on her 27th birthday.

They then married in February 14, 2009 at Jackson Hole, Wyoming USA. Their child was born on November 15, 2009 and was named Valentina Lima Jaric. He was known because he was the only player to win a back to back Italian Championship in two different teams (Fortitudo in 2000 and Virtus Bologna in 2001.) He was selected by the franchise team Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft and was traded to Minnesota Timberwolves in year 2005.

The popularity of some Yugoslavian in basketball field strongly shows that in any country there is really someone who will stand up for his country and shows that they too are not left behind with the basketball phenomenon.

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