Juri Zdovc, Slovenia ...player profiles by Interbasket (original) (raw)

InterBasket > Player Profiles > Jure Zdovc, Slovenia From Fiba.com: "In 1989, the Yugoslavs assembled all of their �golden generation� in what would turn into a 3-year dominance of world basketball (European titles in 1989 and 1990 and a World Championship in 1991).

Coached by Dusan Ivkovic and led on the court byDrazen Petrovic, Yugoslavia also counted onPredrag Danilovic,Vlade Divac,Toni Kukoc,Stojan Vrankovic, Zoran Radovic, Juri Zdovc,Zarko Paspalj, Z Cutura and M Primorac in what was an embarrassment of basketball riches.

The championship was reduced from 12 to 8 teams, but as Drazen Petrovic predicted before the championship, the only team that could beat Yugoslavia was themselves.

Yugoslavia had little trouble progressing to the semi-final stage and in fact the interesting action came from the other group. Champions Greece were under pressure to show that they could perform outside their home country and they did so in style in the semi-finals. As in 1987, the Soviet Union stood in their way and once again, they beat them by 1 point, 81-80.

There was really only one way the final could go and that was victory for Yugoslavia. The home side had little trouble beating Greece and the 98-76 scoreline reflected their dominance. Petrovic finished the game with 28 points and was also elected tournament MVP."

More from Fiba: "The beginning of the 1990�s saw major political upheaval across Europe, as communist regimes began to collapse and the iron curtain gradually disintegrated.

The effect of this change on the basketball landscape was profound, as it led to the collapse of the two basketball superpowers, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia were the first to feel the effects of the new political reality at the 1991 European Championship in Rome.

The war that would go on to split the country had started and its effects were already being felt.

Juri Zdovc was the first casualty.

Slovenia declared independence 2 days into the tournament, and although he had played in both games, Zdovc was ordered not to play any more. Not only that, but he was forced to stay in his hotel room for the remainder of the competition and not speak to any of his teammates."

Juri Zdovc Profile

Name: Jurij Zdovc
Nickname: N/A
Born: O
Status: Retired
Origin: Slovenia
Height: 1,90
Weight: 80kg
Schools: N/A
Drafted:
Languages: Slovenian, English
Website: InterBasket
Teams (jersey): Knorr Bologna (Italy), Iraklis (Greece), Tofas Bursa (Turkey), Slovan (Sloevnia), Split (Croatia)l, Union Olimpija (Slovenia)
Ibn Notes: