Drazen Petrovic played only four seasons in the NBA before he tragically passed away at the age of 28. But in this short period of time, he left strong footsteps for his successor. Vernon Maxwell, who impressed NBA fans with his skills for thirteen seasons, recently discussed Croatian star Drazen Petrovic with Kenny Anderson.
During their conversation, Maxwell explained why he found it more challenging to guard Petrovic than Michael Jordan. The former NBA star recalled the difficulties of defending Petrovic.
“I used to tell Rudy (Tomjanovich) all the time… I told Rudy T, I said, ‘Man, treat that motherf***** like you treat Mike, now. Motherf*****, when Mike comes out of the game, motherf***** you bring me out of the game. When Mike comes back up to that goddamn middle of the table, you let me meet this motherf***** up there. Feed him like that. Don’t let none of these motherf****** get in there and get this b**** going,'” Maxwell said.
Maxwell’s vivid description highlights the relentless pace at which Petrovic played, making him a constant threat on the court.
“Once this motherf***** gets going and you have to run off, they running off three, four screens over there in New Jersey with the Nets,” Maxwell continued.
Drazen Petrovic’s Stellar NBA Career and International Success
Drazen Petrovic, selected in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 60th overall pick, carved out a remarkable career in the NBA.
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After his stint with the Blazers, Petrovic played for the Nets, where he truly shone. In his final NBA season with the Nets, he achieved career highs by averaging 22.3 points per game on 51.8% shooting. He also excelled in three-point shooting, hitting 44.8% of his attempts that season.
Throughout his NBA career, Petrovic averaged 15.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds over 290 regular-season games.
Petrovic’s impact extended beyond the NBA. He earned two silver medals and one bronze medal at the Summer Olympic Games and added a gold and a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup to his impressive list of achievements.
