Drazen Dalipagic enshrined as player in 2004

Drazen Dalipagic

Enshrined: 2004
Born: November 27, 1951
Mostar, Yugoslavia

Drazen Dalipagic was one of the highest-scoring players in European history and was virtually unstoppable when the ball was in his hands. His polished offensive game and court awareness belied the fact that Dalipagic did not start playing basketball until 1971 at the age of 19. Two years later, Dalipagic won his first gold medal at the 1973 European Championships. In seven seasons playing for Belgrade Partizan, the sharpshooter averaged better than 33 points per game and was the team's undisputed leader. As further testament to his scoring prowess, Dalipagic scored 50 or more points on 15 different occasions and once scored 70 points for his Reyer Venice team. Dalipagic's scoring exploits and all-around game made him a three-time winner of the coveted European Player of the Year award. With 12 medals in European, World, and Olympic competition, Dalipagic is one of the most decorated athletes in Yugoslavian history.