page_title: Dražen Petrović
section_title: New Jersey
hierarchical_section_title: Dražen Petrović / NBA career / New Jersey
caption_attribution_description: Ελληνικά: Η φανέλα του Ντρ. Πέτροβιτς στους New Jersey Nets. English: Nets jersey of Dražen Petrović. Español: Camiseta de los Nets con el dorsal 3 de Drazen Petrovic. Camiseta de Petrovic en los New Jersey Nets. Camiseta de Drazen Petrovic en los Nets. Galego: Camiseta dos Nets co dorsal 3 de Drazen Petrovic. O número 3 de Petrović retirado polos Nets. Hrvatski: Dres Netsa. Nederlands: New Jersey Nets. Norsk bokmål: Drazen Petrovics spilte som nummer 3 for New Jersey Nets. Polski: Koszulka New Jersey Nets w której grał Dražen Petrović. Slovenščina: Draženov dres pri New Yersey Nets. Türkçe: 3 nolu Nets forması.
context_page_description: Dražen Petrović was a Croatian professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he initially achieved success playing professional basketball in Europe in the 1980s, before joining the National Basketball Association in 1989.
  A star on multiple stages, Petrović earned two silver medals and one bronze in Olympic basketball, a gold and a bronze in the FIBA World Cup, a gold and a bronze in the FIBA EuroBasket, and two EuroLeague titles. He represented Yugoslavia's national team and, later, Croatia's national team. He earned four Euroscars, and was named Mr. Europa twice. In 1985, he received the Golden Badge award for best athlete of Yugoslavia.
  Seeking a bigger arena after his career start in Europe, Petrović joined the NBA in 1989, as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. After playing mostly off the bench that year, Petrović experienced a breakthrough following a trade to the New Jersey Nets. While starting for the Nets, he became one of the league's best shooting guards. Petrović's career and life were cut short after he died in a car accident at the age of 28. He received the Olympic Order in 1993.
context_section_description: On 23 January 1991, Petrović became a member of the New Jersey Nets. He joined a team that had not reached the playoffs since 1986, but had rookie Derrick Coleman, the number one selection from the 1990 draft. He was immediately given a role on the floor, with 20.5 minutes per game. His scoring over the remaining 43 games increased to 12.6 points per game, one of the league's best points-per-minute ratios. The following year, he and Coleman were joined by Kenny Anderson, giving the team a third talented new addition. Petrović was made a starter for the 1991–92 season, his first full season with the Nets. Petro, as the Americans had dubbed him, did not miss a single game. His determination, hard work and aggressive on-court demeanor established him as a team leader. In 36.9 minutes on the floor he averaged 20.6 points. Petrovic led the Nets in field-goal shooting and free-throw shooting, and his field goal percentage of 51% placed him near the top of all NBA guards. More importantly, his success translated into success for the team. The Nets made the playoffs, recording 14 more wins than the previous year. The following season saw Petrović increase his scoring average to 22.3 ppg, 11th best in the league. On December 6, he was named MVP of the Week. For the second season in a row he shot 45% from the three-point arc. His field goal percentage of 52% was again near the top for all guards. American media honored him with a selection to the All-NBA Third Team. However, he did not receive an invitation to the 1993 All-Star game. Among the top 13 scorers in the NBA that season, he was the only one not invited.
  In an interview on the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Petrovic's Nets teammate, Chucky Brown marveled at Petrovic's healing ability. Brown told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that he remembered Petrovic spraining his knee and was slated to miss two months. Petrovic rehabbed so hard that he ended up only missing two weeks.
caption: Dražen Petrović's Nets jersey; his number 3 was retired by the team following his death.
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