Regret is a heavy load to carry. For NBA players, it can be a missed shot, a botched pass, or a missed defensive assignment that costs them a game or, worse, the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, for former NBA All-Star Vlade Divac, the regret he carries is a different kind of weight. It’s a regret that weighs on his heart and soul.
This is because he never got to repair his relationship with his once-close friend and compatriot, Drazen Petrovic, before his untimely passing in a car accident in Germany in 1993.
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Once thick as thieves
Divac and Petrovic’s bond was as thick as thieves for a long while. As hoop superstars for the then Yugoslavia national basketball team, they spent a lot of time together on and off the court, representing their country with pride on the basketball court. However, their dynamic changed when the Yugoslav Wars broke out, as they found themselves on opposing sides — Drazen represented Croatia, while Vlade stood for Serbia.
The rivalry between the two basketball stars carried over into the NBA, fueling a cold war on the court. Close friends, once inseparable, now avoided eye contact when pitted against each other in the league. Friendly banter gave way to long silence, one they never got to break before tragedy struck.
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“The last year before he died, we just didn’t communicate anymore,” Divac said. “I never had a chance to straighten things up like I did with Toni (Kukoc).”
The 1992-93 season, Drazen’s last one also happened to be his best. He averaged 22.3 points on 51 percent shooting, including a blistering 44 percent from beyond the arc. Although the New Jersey Nets fell in the first round, many believed that at age 28 he finally solidified his place in the NBA.
When the news of his death reached the world, Divac, like everyone else, was shocked and devastated.
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“I remember the day, the place, the time when I heard the news,” Divac said. “I was in Hawaii with family, watching TV, and they showed a picture of Drazen and said he was killed. I couldn’t move.”
A bona fide legend
Although Drazen played only four seasons in the NBA, those who knew him long before he crossed over to the United States consider him a legend and an icon of European basketball.
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“The last six years I’ve played with Peja (Stojakovic), and those two guys remind me a lot of each other,” Vlade added. “I didn’t know anyone who loved basketball as much as Drazen.”
Derrick Coleman, Drazen’s fellow All-Star on that Nets team that seemed to be on the cusp of becoming a contender in the East, also remembers his fallen teammate, not only for his shooting ability and fearlessness, but more so for the spirit he brought.
“I loved him-his passion was contagious. Drazen was like Jackie Robinson for European players. If they don’t know about him, they should ask me,” D.C. stated.
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Drazen’s talent was undeniable, something Vlade had recognized for years. While he deeply misses watching his compatriot’s brilliance on the court, he cherishes and longs for the simple joy of having hi as his friend.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.