It was several weeks before Christmas, in 1992, and a white man from Croatia pulled me, an American Black man, aside in the locker room of the New Jersey Nets after their game against San Antonio. He said something that went like this: “Thank you for being my friend.” His name was Dražen Petrović, a shooting guard with an almost mythical background. I was the Nets beat writer and we had become quite friendly. In fact, I violated one of the professional, and for me personal, edicts of journalism: keep a certain distance from the players you cover. That was impossible with Petro, as most Americans who knew him called him. He was the only athlete I’ve covered, in decades of doing this job, that I ever truly allowed myself to get close to. ... Read the rest here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ic-hall-of-famer-new-jersey-nets/71918378007/
It was a truly sad day when he died. He was a great player that was coming into his own. Fearless. Loved that most about him. A true competitor.
If Portland had been smart enough to keep Drazen and somehow get Sabonis to come over, Drazen (and Clyde, Porter, Buck, Kersey, etc) would have never lost to MJ. Honestly, if they'd just kept and utilized Drazen that may have been enough. What an awesome guy and fantastic player.
