Dejan Bodiroga

The Yugoslav basketball legend Dejan Bodiroga was born 2 March, 1973 in Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia. The 206-centimeters-tall forward is regarded as one of the greatest EuroLeague players in history, having won 3 EuroLeague titles (2000, 2002, 2003) and 2 EuroLeague Final Four MVP awards (2002, 2003).

Bodiroga began his professional career in 1990 with his hometown team – KK Zrenjanin. After playing a season, the young Yugoslav forward was noticed by KK Zadar but because of the war, he played just a season there and in 1991, Bodiroga joined the Italian team Pallacanestro Trieste. His journey in Italy realtively successful. The talented Yugoslav played two seasons with Trieste, averaging 17.5 points per game, and winning the Italian League bronze medals in 1994. The same year, Bodiroga joined the famous Olimpia Milano team. In Milan, Yugoslav forward enjoyed more success. He played two seasons with Olimpia, averaging 20.1 points per game, and winning Italian League title in 1996.

In 1996, Bodiroga joined the Spanish side – Real Madrid. A year later, he made his EuroLeague debut, averaging 15.8 points per game. Real failed to win EuroLeague or Spanish League titles in two seasons Bodiroga played in Madrid. After averaging 18.7 points per game in two seasons with Real, the Yugoslav joined the Greek powerhouse – Panathinaikos, in 1999.

The Greek period was the longest and most successful in Bodiroga’s career. Led by the versatile Yugoslav, Panathinaikos won two EuroLeague and three Greek League titles. He also won the MVP awards in both of these competitions. In a green-white jersey, Bodiroga played 4 seasons, averaging 18.7 points per game in the EuroLeague games, and 18.3 points per game in the Greek League. Because of team’s success and Bodiroga’s individual brilliance, he became an icon and fan-favorite of the local fans.

Bodiroga continued his success in Spain, joining the Barcelona in 2002. He instantly made and impact and in his first season with the Spanish team, the Yugoslav won his second consecutive EuroLeague title and Final Four MVP award, averaging 16.1 point per game in 22 games. This, however, was his final moment of glory in the EuroLeague. Bodiroga played two more seasons with Barcelona, finishing the Spanish chapter of his career with two Spanish League titles.

Bodiroga’s final run in the EuroLeague was in 2006/07 season, when he averaged 13.7 points per game with Virtus Roma. In total, Bodiroga played 9 seasons in the EuroLeague, scoring 3010 points in 179 games, averaging 16.8 points per game. Bodiroga retired after this season at the age of 34.

He enjoyed a great success on the national team level as well. Representing Yugoslavia, Bodiroga won two FIBA World Cup (1998, 2002) and three Eurobasket (1995, 1997, 2001) editions, winning the FIBA World Cup MVP award in 1998. In his EuroLeague, Saporta Cup and international games from 1995 to 2007, Bodiroga scored 4128 points in 269 games.

ACCOLADES

EuroLeague champion (2000, 2002, 2003)
EuroLeague (2001)
EuroLeague Final Four MVP (2002, 2003)
Olympic Games (1996)
FIBA World Cup MVP (1998)
FIBA World Cup (1998, 2002)
Eurobasket (1995, 1997, 2001)
Eurobasket (1999)
FIBA Saporta Cup (1997)
Spanish League Finals MVP (2004)
Spanish League MVP (1998)
Spanish League (2003, 2004)
Spanish League (1997)
Spanish League (1998)
Greek League Finals MVP (1999, 2000)
Greek League MVP (1999)
Greek League (1999, 2000, 2001)
Greek League (2002)
Italian League (1996)
Italian League (1994, 1995, 2006, 2007)
Yugoslav League (1991)