CLUBS AND NATIONAL TEAMS

Already as a 16-year-old he achieved his first successes with the national team. First international achievements he accomplished with Šibenka. In the late 70’s and early 80’s BC Šibenka was a fairly young club from which no one expected great progress. However, due to Dražen's persistence and motivation European basketball arrived to Šibenik and its famous Baldekin hall. For two consecutive years (1982 and 1983) Šibenka played the Radivoj Korać Cup finals – both times against Limoges.

In 1983, as a 18-year-old, Dražen was Šibenka's star player. He was also the decisive player in the final match of the Yugoslav Championship in which Šibenka played against BC Bosna. Like many times before, but also countless times later, for Dražen basketball was priority that evening. Because of this match he missed his prom night and led Šibenka to the title of Yugoslav champion. This match still lives in the memory of many. At that time only few expected that Šibenka, a club only ten years old, would reach the final match, let alone win the championship title. Near the end of the game, in the last two seconds, Bosna was up by one point – 81:82. In those last two seconds, the referee called a foul on Dražen and he was awarded two free throws. Coach Vlado Đurović told Dražen what he already knew very well – if he makes both free throws Šibenka will become the champion of Yugoslavia. It was an enormous responsibility for such a young player, but Dražen already knew how to handle the pressure. He made both free throws and Šibenka became the new Yugoslav champion. Unfortunately, the title stayed at Baldekin for only sixteen hours, after which the Basketball Federation decided to cancel the game due to alleged irregularities. New final game should have been played on neutral court in Novi Sad. Upon hearing it Dražen said: “I don’t know about others but I am not going to Novi Sad and I am not playing that game again.” His teammates supported him and refused to play a new game. Unfortunately, the Championship title was taken from Šibenka. BC Bosna was named the champion of Yugoslavia and Šibenka was a runner up. However, Šibenka's players did not return the gold medals and today Dražen's medal is proudly exhibited in the museum with numerous other trophies from the Šibenka period.

Dražen always showed his emotions on the court. During the matches he could often be seen laughing and genuinely enjoying the game all the while prepared to show some of his extraordinary basketball moves. His wittiness and appetite for winning is portrayed in the following anectdote – when he played against his brother Aleksandar, in Šibenka vs. Cibona match, evening before the game Dražen wrote a note saying: “Entrance not granted for Cibona players – no points for you tonight”, and left it on the entrance door of family apartment.

While Dražen was playing for Šibenka, many clubs, among whom were Bosna, Crvena zvezda and Partizan, wanted to see him in their ranks. He decided to sign for Cibona where he continued his career after serving in the military in 1984. Decision was not easy, but Dražen said he needed to follow his basketball insticts. His last game for Šibenka was on 31 May 1984 in Omiš.