Stojko Vranković
Stojan "Stojko" Vranković (born January 22, 1964, in Drniš, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a retired Croatian basketball player who also represented Yugoslavia.
A 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) center, he played 5 seasons (1990–1992; 1996–1999) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers. He was very popular in Europe while playing for Athens-based Panathinaikos and winning the club's first Euroleague Championship.
Club career
A renowned shot blocker, he made little impact in the NBA, managing small minutes and a low scoring average even though he started 73 out of 170 games played. He did however have a major impact in Europe playing for Greek team Panathinaikos. In 1996, he combined with Dominique Wilkins to lead Panathinaikos to a Euroleague Championship - a first for the club. Vranković's defensive contribution was vital, namely his block of Zeljko Rebraca at the buzzer, in the third game of the quarter-finals against Benetton Treviso, sending Panathinaikos through. In the final, his block to deny Barcelona the lead in the last second, gave the game a dramatic end, before falling to the ground in the ensuing hustle and clutching his knee in pain on the buzzer.[1] In an interview on the official Final Four website, Panathinaikos captain Panagiotis Giannakis described the incident as follows:
- "All that happened at the end of the game is unbelievable, a few seconds that lasted one century! I remember Stojko (Vrankovic) running like...Carl Lewis from one side to the other to stop (José Antonio) Montero. He blocked the layup almost at the buzzer and he sealed the victory."[2]
National team
Vranković earned a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Basketball Tournament with the Yugoslavia national basketball team. At the following 1992 Olympic Games he won silver in the men's final against the American "Dream Team" playing for the Croatia national team.
Friendship with Dražen Petrović
Vranković was a close friend of fellow basketball player Dražen Petrović. He was a coffin bearer at Petrovic's funeral in 1993 and has been active in commemorating his memory. In an article on the FIBA website concerning the opening of a museum in Dražen's honour, Vranković is quoted:
"I would like to thank all those involved in creating this place, so children would be able to learn more about 'basketball's Amadeus'".[3]
Notes
- ^ Video footage of Vranković's last second block of for Panathinaikos in the 1996 Final Four
- ^ 1996 Final Four: Victory comes to Greece and the Greens
- ^ CRO - Memorial centre for Drazen The Great
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Vrankovic, Stojko |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
Croatian basketball player |
| Date of birth |
January 22, 1964 |
| Place of birth |
Drniš, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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