Drazen Dalipagic

From Hoopedia

Dražen Dalipagić (born November 27, 1951 in Mostar, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), is a retired Serbian basketball player. He was one of the most dominating players in Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He finished high school in the Mostar Technical School and college in Belgrade Teachers College. He served in the army in 1979.

Dalipagić, widely known by his nickname Praja, started playing basketball at the age of 19 and two years later, in 1973, he played the first of his 243 games as a member of the Yugoslavian National Team, winning his first of three gold medals at the European Championships. His four medals in the FIBA World Championships (Silver, 1974; Gold, 1978; Bronze, 1982 and 1986) are international basketball records. A three-time Olympian, Dalipagic was instrumental in the Yugoslavian team's capturing the 1980 Olympic gold medal.

He was elected the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1978. Dalipagić is one of the most decorated athletes in Yugoslavian history.

While playing for Partizan Belgrade (1971-78, 1979-80, 1981-82) he was named European player of the Year in 1977, 1978 and 1980. In 1976 he led Partizan Belgrade to Yugoslavian League title, and to FIBA Korac Cup in 1978.

Dalipagic was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on September 10, 2004. In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Since retiring as a professional basketball player, Dalipagić has lived in Belgrade. He is currently the president of Novi Beograd (Atlas) basketball club.