Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information on Dražen Petrović:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Dražen Petrović
  • Nationality: Croatian
  • Age: Born October 22, 1964; tragically passed away on June 7, 1993, at the age of 28.
  • Hometown: Šibenik, Croatia (formerly part of Yugoslavia)
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
  • Weight: 195 pounds (88 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wore #3 and #44
  • Position: Shooting Guard
  • High School: Grew up in Šibenik; no American high school attended
  • College: Did not attend college; played professionally in Europe before the NBA
  • NBA Draft: Not drafted; signed by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1989
  • Teams Played For:
    • Šibenka (1979–1983)
    • Cibona Zagreb (1984–1988)
    • Real Madrid (1988–1989)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1991)
    • New Jersey Nets (1991–1993)
  • Championship Rings: None (though he had immense success in European basketball)
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings:
    • Older brother: Aleksandar “Aco” Petrović, a prominent basketball coach and player.

Dražen Petrović’s player archetype was that of a high-volume shot-making scoring guard, a fiercely competitive offensive engine who blended elite perimeter shooting with relentless off-ball movement and shot creation. Defensively, he was more functional than imposing, usually working as a backcourt team defender rather than a true stopper, while his offensive role centered on spacing the floor, curling off screens, attacking closeouts, and carrying major scoring responsibility. At 6-foot-5 and about 195 pounds, Petrović had good size for a shooting guard, but his real physical edge came from his stamina, balance, and nonstop intensity. His play style was aggressive, emotional, and polished, built on deep-range shooting, crafty mid-range work, quick decision-making, and the kind of confidence that let him hunt tough shots without hesitation. (NBA)

Notes:

  • Similar players to Drazen Petrovic include Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, J.J. Redick, Luka Dončić, Manu Ginóbili, Peja Stojaković, Ray Allen, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Vassilis Spanoulis.

Sources:

NBA.com — Legends profile: Drazen Petrovic
ESPN — What made Drazen Petrovic groundbreaking and unforgettable
Basketball-Reference — Dražen Petrović Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more