Dino Rađa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Power forward |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Nationality |  Croatia |
| Born | April 24, 1967 Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia |
| Draft | 40th overall, 1989 Boston Celtics |
| Pro career | 1987 – 2002 |
| Former teams | BC Split (1987 – 1989) Virtus Roma (1990 – 1994) |
| Olympic medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Basketball | |||
| Silver | 1988 Seoul | Yugoslavia | |
| Silver | 1992 Barcelona | Croatia | |
Dino Rađa, known in English as Dino Radja (born April 24, 1967 in Split), is a retired Croatian basketball player. He was a member of the legendary BC Split team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which he helped to two European Cup titles. In the United States he is best known for the three and a half seasons spent with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
Contents |
[edit] Split
Rađa began his basketball life in his native town, as a junior at BC Dalvin. From there he went on to BC Split to polish his professional career. He marvelled with Jugoplastika and POP 84 (two most notable sponsorships borne by BC Split), as he and his friend Toni Kukoč lead the team to the pinnacle of European club basketball twice in a row (1989 and 1990). Rađa would not stay in Split for a historic three-peat the club achieved, lead by Kukoč, the following year, but would instead leave for Italy; although he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1989 NBA Draft, in 1990 he signed for Virtus Roma, where he spent the next three years.
[edit] Rome
Rađa averaged 18.1 points in his first season with Il Messaggero (Virtus Roma enjoyed sponsorship from that popular Roman newspaper at the time). European sports journalists voted him the second best European player that season, shadowed only by his former teammate and friend Kukoč. He improved his scoring average each of the next two seasons with the Roman club, averaging 20.2 and 21.5 points, respectively. He left Virtus triumphantly, helping the club to a Korać Cup title in 1993.
[edit] Boston
He joined the Celtics in 1993. In his first season Radja averaged 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds, earning All-NBA Rookie Second Team honors, along with Kukoč, at that time a rookie with the Chicago Bulls. He spent three successful years with the Celtics, averaging 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds. In 1997 a trade that was to send Radja to the Philadelphia 76ers for Clarence Weatherspoon failed, which was a likely catalyst to his decision to leave the US.
[edit] Return to Europe
He returned to Europe in 1997, joining Panathinaikos BC. He spent two years there, winning two Greek Championships, but returned in 1999 to his native Croatia, playing for BC Zadar. The following year he returned to Greece, joining Panathinaikos' long-time rivals, Olympiacos BC, in an unsuccessful attempt to regain the Greek Championship. He returned, once again, to Croatia, joining BC Cibona for the 2001-2002 season. Radja finished his career in 2003, winning the Croatian championship with his first team, BC Split.
[edit] National teams
Radja was on the Yugoslavian team that won the silver medal in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. He was also a part of golden Yugoslavian teams at 1989 Eurobasket in Zagreb, 1990 World Championship in Buenos Aires and 1991 Eurobasket in Rome.
Following the Croatian independence, Radja became an important part of the Croatian national basketball team, most notably at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where Croatia won the silver medal. Radja was also on the Croatian teams that won the bronze at the 1993 Eurobasket in Germany, 1994 World Championship in Toronto and 1995 Eurobasket in Athens.
