Welcome to the sixth edition of Throwback Thursday here on A Royal Pain! Today’s edition goes to a player/businessman many are familiar with: Vlade Divac!
Welcome back everyone to Throwback Thursday here on A Royal Pain! Every Thursday, I go back and reminisce a former Kings player. So far, we’ve covered Doug Christie, Mike Bibby, Jason Williams, Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber. After two polls that ended in tiebreakers, Vlade Divac came out the winner! So let’s get into it!
The Player
Vlade Divac was born on February 3rd, 1968 in the country of Yugoslavia (Peja knows that country) and he eventually became the 26th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. Guess what team picked him? Yeah, the Los Angeles Lakers *insert annoyed face*. A 16-year veteran, he also appeared for Charlotte for two seasons until finally arriving in Sacramento in the ’98-’99 season. He stayed in Sacramento until 2004. He then played one more season with the Lakers and hung up the sneakers.
Fun fact, he was traded in 1996 to the Hornets where the Lakers received an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant.
Related Story: The Sacramento Kings are showing signs of stability in management
The Numbers
Vlade was never one to kill you with scoring but contributed on the floor in a variety of ways.
Career Averages: 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 50% shooting, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals
As a King, his best statistical season came in ’98-’99, his first season: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 47% shooting.
Accolades
- 1990 All-Rookie First Team
- 1x All-Star 2000-01
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2000)
- Mister Europa Player of the Year (1989)
- FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players (1991)
- 50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors (2008)
- No. 21 jersey retired by Kings
The Wrap Up
Vlade Divac is and was the perfect definition of an NBA center. He could provide consistent scoring, toughness defensively, solid rebounding, and is the guy every team wants as their big man. He formed a solid combination with Chris Webber back when the Kings were perennial playoffs contenders. Hopefully, the current big man tandem of Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere can rival that duo. How fun would that be?!
Next: Best NBA free agents still available
Thank you, everyone, for reading this edition of Throwback Thursday! Make sure to follow me on Twitter @TheSanjeshSingh if you ever want to have your say on any future articles!