War consequences on Basketball

From 1980 to 1990, The Republic of Yugoslavia had a very good basketball team. It was one of the best in the world with USA and USSR. They even beat the US one during the 1988 Olympic Games. The Yugoslavian team was multiethnic, composed of Serbs and Croats.

In 1991, Yugoslavia celebrates its European title when one of the player, Vlade Divac, tears a Croatian flag from a fan.

Vlade Divac is Serbian. His gesture is seen as a political one. His best friend in the team, Dražen Petrović, is Croatian.

They will not speak again after that. Dražen Petrović died in 1993 in a car crash.

The Yugoslavian Basketball team has never recovered its level from that time.

After all the republics of Yugoslavia got independents, the team kept its demonization of “Yugoslavian Team”.  

In 2003, there is no more Yugoslavian team. It is then recalled “Serbia and Montenegro Team” until 2006 when Montenegro got independent. From so on, Serbian team and Montenegro Team are both recognized.

Dražen Petrović and Vlade Divac before 1991

Vlade Divac, Serbian.

Dražen Petrović, Croatian.