Narrator Vlade Divac, who’s oldest son is now 18, recollects his life when he was the identical age. All of it started within the mid 80-s after Divac signed knowledgeable contract with Partizan Belgrade and was chosen to play on the nation’s nationwide workforce. Divac meets his idol, 4 years older Petrovic, who as soon as scored 112 factors in a single recreation (!) on the workforce’s coaching camp. The 2 grow to be associates, although Vlade was an extrovert, and Drazen a withdrawn fellow all the time targeted on basketball.
Documentary exhibits success of Yugoslav workforce within the following years. The workforce, who’s captain was Drazen Petrovic, received in complete 5 medals together with two golds.
Within the meantime, subsequent large step for 2 associates is – NBA. In 1989., 7′ 1” ft (2.16 m) tall Divac is chosen by the Lakers within the first spherical and Petrovic is signed by the Portland Path Blazers, who had drafted him three years earlier. Whereas cheerful Divac, who barely speaks English at that time, is turning into a brand new star of Lakers, Petrovic would not get sufficient time to play in Blazers, though he eagerly desires to show himself. Nonetheless, the friendship continues with lengthy cellphone conversations, nearly on each day foundation; Divac says they had been ‘like brothers’. After two seasons Petrovic is traded to New Jersey Nets the place he finally turns into a star, nicknamed as ‘Petro’.
At the moment in multi-ethnical Yugoslavia civil conflict was escalating. Croatia was attacked by Serbia, and nobody may stand apart. So known as ‘flag incident’ solely made it worse and meant the tip of the friendship between Serb Divac and Croat Petrovic. On the 1990 World Championships, after Yugoslavia received a gold medal, Divac threw away Croatian flag, which was carried in basketball courtroom by a supporter. He claimed later, he would’ve accomplished the identical if somebody carried Serbian flag, however the harm was accomplished and communication between two of them finally stopped. It was adopted by Drazen Petrovic’s tragic dying in 1993 in a automobile accident.
In his try to make a closure, Divac visited Drazen’s mom Biserka and brother Aleksandar in Zagreb and paid a tribute to his late pal by visiting his grave.
Though story of the movie is targeted on two associates, it was attention-grabbing to see commentary of another legendary gamers, similar to Magic Johnson or Kenny Anderson, well-known coaches and sport journalists. Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, two Croatian gamers who discovered success within the NBA, additionally share their views on these occasions.
As an individual who grew up in ex-Yugoslavia, I’ve watched this film with nice curiosity and combination of feelings. Disappointment, delight, nostalgia… Me and my associates had been all the time trying as much as Drazen, he was a nationwide icon – good-looking, devoted and sensible participant. Solely a sudden dying stopped this ‘Mozart of basketball’ on his option to grow to be one of many largest NBA star – one thing that Vlade Divac achieved. Then again, most of us in Croatia thought-about Divac a villain as a result of a ‘flag accident’.
I am conscious that issues in life aren’t merely black or white however I can solely hope this documentary will assist viewers of each nations to know one another higher and start to understand true human values. I’d suggest it to anybody who’s into basketball, or comes from ex-Yugoslavia, or has misplaced an in depth pal as a result of a circumstances. As Vlade Divac mentioned: ‘To construct a friendship it takes years, and to destroy it – only one second’.
The post Once Brothers – A Story of a Broken Friendship Between Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic appeared first on NO INDEX.