The Yugoslav basketball legend Žarko Paspalj was born 27 March, 1966 in Pljevlja, Yugoslavia. The 207-centimeter-tall forward enjoyed a successful career, playing for renowned teams, like Partizan Belgrade (1986-1989, 1990-1991), Olympiacos (1991-1994), Panathinaikos (1994-1995), and Virtus Bologna (1998-1999).
Paspalj made his EuroLeague debut in 1987/88 season, instantly becoming one of the best scorers of the competition, averaging 19.8 points per game, and helping Partizan to win the bronze medals. The Yugoslav turned out to be an excellent scorer, leading the EuroLeague in scoring twice (1993, 1995).
The peak of Paspalj’s career in the EuroLeague was in 1994, when the Olympiacos reached the Final Four and he won the Final Four MVP award. His team, however, could not win the title. The following season, the Yugoslav moved to their rivals – Panathinaikos. In his only season with PAO, Paspalj helped them to reach the Final Four stage once again, averaging 19.8 points per game and leading the EuroLeague in scoring.
His final EuroLeague run was in his final season before retirement. Paspalj was a part of Virtus Bologna team that reached the EuroLeague Final. The Yugoslav did not play a big part in that run, averaging just 5.4 points per game in 9 games. After this season, Paspalj retired from basketball at the age of 32. In total, he played 5 seasons in the EuroLeague, scoring 1253 points in 85 games, averaging 14.7 points per game.
Paspalj was a key player in Yugoslav national team, helping his team to win the FIBA World Cup in 1999, as well as three Eurobasket titles (1989, 1991, 1995). In his EuroLeague, FIBA Korac Cup and international games from 1986 to 1998, Paspalj scored 2463 points in 177 games.
ACCOLADES
Euroleague (1999)
EuroLeague (1988, 1994, 1995)
EuroLeague Final Four MVP (1994)
EuroLeague Top Scorer (1993, 1995) Olympic Games (1988, 1996)
FIBA World Cup (1990) Eurobasket (1989, 1991, 1995) Eurobasket (1987) FIBA Korac Cup (1989) Yugoslav League (1989) Yugoslav League (1988, 1989, 1991) Greek League Finals MVP (1994) Greek League Top Scorer (1992) Greek League (1993, 1994) Greek League (1992, 1995) Greek League (1996) French League (1997) Italian League (1998)
EUROLEAGUE STATISTICS
Year
87/88
92/93
93/94
94/95
98/99
TOT
Team
A
22
27
28
29
33
GP
17
19
19
21
9
85
PPG
19.8
23.8
20.9
19.8
5.4
14.7
PTS
336
453
398
415
49
1253
RNK
14th
3rd
176th
FIBA KORAC CUP STATISTICS
Year
86/87
88/89
95/96
97/98
TOT
Team
Age
21
23
30
32
GP
8
12
10
11
41
PPG
13.0
21.7
20.2
10.7
16.8
PTS
107
260
202
118
687
TRK
R16
GS
QF
YUGOSLAV, GREEK, FRENCH & ITALIAN LEAGUE STATISTICS
Year
86/87
87/88
88/89
90/91
91/92
93/94
94/95
96/97
98/99
TOT
Team
Age
21
22
23
25
26
28
29
31
33
GP
28
27
27
27
23
35
35
9
12
246
PPG
18.6
17.8
24.0
26.3
33.6
19.4
18.2
12.1
8.2
18.7
PTS
521
480
648
711
761
680
637
109
98
4611
TRK
OLYMPIC GAME STATISTICS
Year
1988
1996
TOT
Team
Age
22
26
GP
8
8
16
PPG
10.6
8.4
9.5
PTS
85
67
152
RNK
33rd
49th
FIBA WORLD CUP STATISTICS
Year
1990
TOT
Team
Age
24
GP
8
8
PPG
13.0
13.0
PTS
104
104
RNK
29th
EUROBASKET STATISTICS
Year
1987
1989
1991
1995
TOT
Team
Age
21
23
25
29
GP
8
5
5
9
27
PPG
10.4
13.4
9.0
8.0
9.9
PTS
83
67
45
72
267
RNK
34th
18th
31st
43rd
Description for statistics
FIBA Saporta Cup is the same competition, as FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup, ULEB Cup or EuroCup, a 2nd-tier European Cup competition. FIBA Korac Cup is the same competition as FIBA EuroChallenge, a 3rd-tier European Cup competition. GP – Games played PPG – Points per game PTS – Total points RNK – Individual scoring ranking TRK – Team ranking
Fiero Sportivo 