Vlade Divac

• 1. Early European Career

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  Vlade Divac began playing basketball in his home town Prijepolje for the team KK Elan. He started his professional career in Yugoslavia with Sloga from Kraljevo, scoring 27 points against Crvena zvezda immediately. In the summer of 1986, he became the top star of the transfer season and signed with KK Partizan for DM14,000. That same year, he debuted for the senior Yugoslavia national team at the 1986 FIBA World Championship in Madrid under head coach KrešimirĆosić. The rookie performance was spoiled by a semi-final loss to the Soviet Union after a double dribble error left only 14 seconds on the clock. Divac participated in the gold medal-winning 1987 FIBA Junior World Championship in Bormio, Italy, defeating the U.S. team twice. He helped lead Partizan to the Yugoslavian League title during the 1986-87 season alongside players like Aleksandar Đorđević and Žarko Paspalj. Coach Duško Vujošević guided this dream team to victory before they lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague semifinal in Ghent.

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• 2. NBA Playing Legacy

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  Divac entered the NBA in 1989 when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him as one of the first European players to impact the league. Under mentors Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, he adapted his play despite speaking no English initially. By the 1989, 90 season, he earned an All-Rookie Team selection after averaging 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. His unique style included good mobility for a center and decent shooting ability from mid-range. He became known for flopping or deceiving officials into calling fouls by purposely falling upon contact. Veteran forward P.J. Brown claimed Divac might have been the best at flopping ever. On the 12th of February 1997, while playing for Charlotte Hornets, he recorded a career-high 12 blocks in a win over New Jersey Nets. He scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds that same night. Divac signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract with Sacramento Kings on the 22nd of January 1999. He helped revitalize the franchise alongside Peja Stojaković and Chris Webber. The team led the league in wins during the 2001-02 season before losing to the Lakers in a controversial seven-game series. He retired on the 14th of July 2005, ending a 16-year NBA career where he earned over $93 million in salary.

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• 3. Humanitarian Foundations

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  Divac established Group Seven charity with six Serbian teammates later renamed Divac's Children Foundation. They worked closely with International Orthodox Christian Charities to raise around US$500,000 for humanitarian assistance in Serbia since 1997. His own foundation provided over $2,500,000 in aid through 1998, 2007. In late 2007, he founded You Can Too organization to restore abandoned homes in villages throughout Serbia and Africa. Around 7,800 people still live in collective centers under poor conditions so the group buys countryside houses to solve accommodation problems. From September 21 to 23, 2007, Divac organized an official farewell from his active basketball career in Prijepolje and Belgrade. A gathering of friends occurred outside the National Assembly building before 10,000 people promoting the campaign. The NBA named him recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2000 for outstanding community service. He received an honor from World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2013. In October 2008, he was appointed government adviser in Serbia for humanitarian issues.

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• 4. Administrative Leadership

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  In late 2000, following overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, Divac took over KK Partizan with former teammate Predrag Danilović. They acted on initiative of Ivica Dačić who needed safeguards against state-owned companies being taken over during power vacuum. Danilović ran day-to-day operations while Divac remained involved with Sacramento Kings until they pulled out in summer 2004 due to financial burden. In June 2006, through friendship with Predrag Mijatović, Divac linked up with Ramón Calderón as part of Real Madrid presidential bid. When Calderón won elections the 2nd of July 2006, Divac became head of operations though scope reduced to consulting duties. By end of 2007, following financial settlement, he moved on from post where he reportedly earned €300,000 annually. In February 2009, Divac ran for presidency of Olympic Committee of Serbia against incumbent IvanĆurković. He won afterĆurković withdrew just before scheduled voting and was re-elected November 2012 as sole candidate. On the 9th of May 2017, Serbian coach Božidar Maljković succeeded him as president. In early March 2015, Divac hired by Sacramento Kings as vice president of basketball and franchise operations under owner Vivek Ranadivé.

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• 5. Political Controversies

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  Divac's attempts to make major investments in Serbia failed for various reasons including highly publicized takeover bid of beverage producer Knjaz Miloš. His company Apurna proposed best bid alongside French dairy giant Danone but sale aborted by Serbia Securities Commission over alleged extra money offered to small shareholders. The entire messy affair caused great friction within government leading to resignation of Securities Commission chief and police investigation. Another episode involved 2005 attempt to take over Večernje novosti daily newspaper which Serbian Government halted fearing lack of control. Supreme Court ruled in Divac favor yet he withdrew citing friendly advice from unnamed persons. Embittered, he decided stop investment attempts stating All of this is ugly and I'm very upset. However October 2007 saw legally registered ownership of Voda Voda bottled water brand previously owned by businessman Vojin Đorđević. Đorđević publicly accused Divac of deceit breaking gentlemen agreement they had. In October 2008, it was announced that Divac would have political advisory role within Serbian government as sports diaspora and humanitarian advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić. He served until the 9th of May 2017 when succeeded by Božidar Maljković.

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• 6. Cultural Impact

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  In early 1990s song Vlade Divac by Belgrade band Deca Loših Muzičara devoted to his move to Lakers became big hit. Band finally met personally with Divac performing song at his farewell party in 2007. During time with Lakers popularity picked up by American TV industry appearing on Los Angeles-based late night programmes like The Arsenio Hall Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 1990 featured in commercial with teammates A.C. Green and Mychal Thompson for Schick razor company. Appeared in sitcoms Married... with Children Coach and short lived Good Sports. On big screen took part in basketball movies Eddie Space Jam and Juwanna Mann. Later appeared on Larry King Live 1999 and Late Late Show 2002. Throughout playing career regularly appeared in commercials pitching products ranging from Atlas Beer to Société Générale mortgage credit plans. Appeared in national TV commercial United States alongside Darryl Dawkins for Taco Bell. Featured as special guest Eurovision 2008 throwing ball into audience marking beginning of televoting. Appears in ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Once Brothers discussing exploits Yugoslavia national team torn apart by Yugoslav Wars.

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