Tag: Drazen Petrovic

Larry Bird, Ray Allen cited among greatest shooters of all time

In a recent analysis of the second-best shooters ever after Stephen Curry, two Boston Celtics made the cut.

In a recent analysis of the second-best shooters ever after Stephen Curry put together by Hoops Hype’s Frank Urbina, two Boston Celtics made the cut from a fairly broad field of historical sharpshooters.

Urbina drew from a veritable “who’s who” of the best long-distance marksmen to see who wins the silver behind the Hoops Hype analysts’ greatest of all shooters in league history in Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. Other names besides Larry Bird and Ray Allen included Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Reggie Miller, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, Kyle Korver, Predrag Stojakovic, Drazen Petrovic, and Oscar Schmidt.

Let’s take a look at some of what Urbina had to say about the Celtics on that list — as well as who he believes is No. 2 on the list of the greatest shooters of all time.

The All-Time NBA First and Second …

The All-Time NBA First and Second European Teams were announced, as voted for by fans in Europe and a blue-ribbon panel of European media, broadcasters, influencers and celebrities. Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker and Luka Doncic were named to the First Team while Nikola Jokic, Toni Kukoc, Drazen Petrovic, Pedja Stojakovic and Arvydas Sabonis were named to the Second Team.

75 greatest international players ever: The HoopsHype list

After the great success of our HoopsHype75 list, which absolutely no one disagreed with at all, we decided to put together another one focusing on the 75 greatest international players ever. This is a far more difficult exercise than the Top 75 NBA …

After the great success of our HoopsHype75 list, which absolutely no one disagreed with at all, we decided to put together another one focusing on the 75 greatest international players ever.

This is a far more difficult exercise than the Top 75 NBA players list. In that one, it was all legends. Here, after the actual stars on top, you’re often splitting hairs when picking one role player ahead of another and, on top of that, you have to evaluate how to rate FIBA luminaries who didn’t pan out all that well in the NBA or didn’t play in the league at all.

Though we factored in FIBA accomplishments some, we put way more stock on what players did while competing against the very best (that is, in the NBA). And, of course, the focus is on what they achieved and not what they could have done if A, B or C had happened. Facts over speculation.

As with our NBA75 list, we compiled votes from our staff, removed the highest and lowest rank for each player and awarded points 75-1 for the rest.

It was fun to put together.

Let’s jump in.

75 greatest international players ever: The HoopsHype list

After the great success of our HoopsHype75 list, which absolutely no one disagreed with at all, we decided to put together another one focusing on the 75 greatest international players ever.

This is a far more difficult exercise than the Top 75 NBA players list. In that one, it was all legends. Here, after the actual stars on top, you’re often splitting hairs when picking one role player ahead of another and, on top of that, you have to evaluate how to rate FIBA luminaries who didn’t pan out all that well in the NBA or didn’t play in the league at all.

Though we factored in FIBA accomplishments some, we put way more stock on what players did while competing against the very best (that is, in the NBA). And, of course, the focus is on what they achieved and not what they could have done if A, B or C had happened. Facts over speculation.

As with our NBA75 list, we compiled votes from our staff, removed the highest and lowest rank for each player and awarded points 75-1 for the rest.

It was fun to put together.

Let’s jump in.

Kyrie Irving ‘excited to pay homage’ to Nets legends with throwback uniforms

Kyrie Irving grew up a New Jersey Nets fan, so he’s excited to represent his home with the team’s new throwback uniforms.

There was probably no current member of the Nets more excited about the franchise’s announcement on Wednesday than Kyrie Irving.

A Nets fans from his days as a kid, Irving will now get the chance to rock a New Jersey throwback uniform next season on special occasions.

The Brooklyn point guard reflected on his Nets fandom as part of the team’s announcement about their 2020-21 Classic Edition throwback uniforms on Wednesday:

“Growing up a New Jersey Nets fan, especially in the Tri-state area, it was a different pride you had to have. I had that chip on my shoulder everywhere I went. Because, I was that New Jersey kid sometimes in New York City or Philly or in D.C. or in North Carolina. And up the whole entire East Coast where it was big to rep where you were from. That was the attitude, that was the mentality that I embodied. And that went right along with the Nets, as well. I wanted to be like J-Kidd growing up. I wanted to be like some of these great stars that I got the chance to see play in the 90s and the 2000s.”

“A lot of my friends and family members were connected to the fandom, as well. Being a New Jersey Nets fan, going to Continental Airlines Arena, cheering up from the nosebleeds. … The motivation for me was I’m gonna make sure that when the Nets get back to the Finals, I’m going to be a part of this team and we’re going to be winning this.”

Irving continued:

“I’m excited to pay homage to some of the Nets legends that came before me, me being right in the middle of this now and [those] that come after me — to be etched with those names in Nets history now, not even so much the play. Just being a part of the organization, knowing that I was once a fan and now I became part of it. Looking back on it, you got Drazen [Petrovic],  you got Kenny Anderson. You got a few legends — Vince Carter. You got Julius Erving. And then now, you got the classic jersey that we’re paying homage to, just that snapshot in Nets history. I’m grateful to be able to do it, and I’m honored to be able to do it because I know being able to put that on is paying homage to the legends that came before me.”

Dino Radja: It is difficult to write …

Dino Radja: It is difficult to write something about Drazen that has not already been written. Yet after watching the Last Dance I have to make a comparison. I’m not going to talk about playing qualities because it doesn’t matter in this situation. Just the mind. Everything in Jordan’s head was in Drazen’s. Identical. That’s why he was what he was. A winner above all. Games were lost here and there, championships and titles, but it was the mind that did not allow surrender and that pushed forward without compromise. From him, my mind also learned a lot and copied unconsciously. Who then has an idea of ​​anything. And now to confirm only one situation that few people know. Drazen’s last match against Slovenia in Poland. Totally irrelevant because we played the qualifying finals and the first three go to the European Championships. It means a match for nothing. Nobody even needs to play. However, this was never an option for him.

Today in Nets history: Nets win first playoff game in eight years

Drazen Petrovic and Derrick Coleman made sure the Nets weren’t swept by the Cavaliers in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

After losing in the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, the New Jersey Nets didn’t make the postseason again until 1992. But there was still another streak the ’92 group needed to snap.

The Nets didn’t win a game in the 1986 NBA Playoffs. Same thing happened in 1985.

Going into Game 3 of the first round on the 1992 NBA Playoffs, the Nets franchise had not won a playoff game in almost exactly eight years — the last win coming against the Bucks on May 5, 1984.

The skid came to an end on April 28, 1992, as the Nets fought off another sweep, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-104 to force a Game 4 (full box score).

Chris Morris led the Nets with 28 points. Derrick Coleman (22 points and 11 rebounds) and Mookie Blaylock (10 points and 12 assists) both posted double-doubles.

Drazen Petrovic had a strong showing, as well. He scored 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting (3-for-5 from deep).

RELATED: Ranking the top five power forwards in Nets history