Basketball icon Drazen Dalipagic, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has passed away at the age of 73, his former Serbian club Partizan confirmed on Saturday.
Dalipagic died in Belgrade after a prolonged illness, according to a statement from Partizan. “The top scorer in the history of KK Partizan, a former Yugoslav national team player, a legend of world basketball, and a man of unparalleled character,” the club wrote on its website.
Dalipagic had a legendary career, highlighted by winning an Olympic gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Games with the former Yugoslavia. He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame and was named one of the 50 greatest basketball players by the international basketball federation in 1991.
Joining Partizan in 1971, Dalipagic became the club’s all-time top scorer, a title he still holds with 8,278 points—a record unmatched by any other player in the club’s history. Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of Yugoslavia, Dalipagic played for the national team in 243 games between 1973 and 1986.
Dalipagic’s illustrious career includes appearances at multiple European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. He won Olympic medals, including gold in 1980, silver in 1976, and bronze in 1984, as well as multiple medals at the World and European Championships.
In addition to his time at Partizan, Dalipagic also played for prestigious clubs such as Real Madrid, Red Star Belgrade, and teams in Udine, Venice, and Verona. After retiring from playing, Dalipagic went on to coach basketball teams in Serbia, North Macedonia, and Italy.
Dalipagic’s legacy as one of basketball’s finest is cemented by his contributions to the sport both on and off the court.
