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Brooklyn Nets: 10 best players from 2nd NBA decade (1986-96)

By Phil Watson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 28: Drazen Petrovic #3 of hte New Jersey Nets shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings on January 28, 1991 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Acquired from Portland Trail Blazers in 3-team trade, Jan. 23, 1991. Drazen Petrovic. 2. player. 147. . SG

Drazen Petrovic spent his first couple of NBA seasons stuck on the Portland Trail Blazers’ bench behind Clyde Drexler and Danny Ainge at the shooting guard spot and the Croatian sensation nicknamed “Mozart of the Hoops” for his shooting touch and playing style needed a change.

He got it in January 1991 when a three-team trade sent Petrovic and a 1993 second-round pick to the Nets from the Portland Trail Blazers, with New Jersey also landing forward Terry Mills from the Denver Nuggets and sending big man Greg Anderson and a 1992 first-rounder back to Denver.

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Brooklyn Nets

Petrovic still came off the bench for the Nets, put in a more prominent role, and in 1991-92 became the starter at the 2 spot, finishing ninth in the NBA with 123 3-pointers and second with a mark of 44.4 percent from long range.

Coming into his own, Petrovic earned All-NBA third team honors in 1992-93, finishing third in 3-point shooting at 44.9 percent and ninth at the foul line at 87.0 percent.

We couldn’t have known at the time is was going to be all over.

On June 7, 1993, while riding in a vehicle in Germany, the driver lost control and Petrovic was killed at the age of 28 He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

In parts of three seasons with New Jersey, Petrovic averaged 19.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 33.7 minutes per game on a slash line of .511/.437/.846.

Among qualifiers, he topped the Nets from 1986-96 in 3-point shooting and was second with 220 3-pointers.

Petrovic turned pro at age 15 with Sibenka in the former Yugoslavia, where he played four seasons before spending four years with Cibona, in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. He went to Portland, which had drafted him in the third round in 1986, after playing a season in Spain with Real Madrid.

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