Peja Stojaković

Predrag Stojaković, affectionately known as Peja, was born on June ninth, nineteen seventy-seven, in Serbia. A former professional basketball player and now a basketball executive, Stojaković's career in the NBA spanned from nineteen ninety-eight to two thousand eleven. Standing at six feet ten inches, he primarily played as a small forward, showcasing his exceptional shooting skills.

Stojaković's journey began with Crvena zvezda and PAOK before he was drafted fourteenth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the nineteen ninety-six NBA draft. His breakthrough season came in two thousand one, where he averaged twenty point four points and five point eight rebounds, earning him a second-place finish in the Most Improved Player Award voting. During his time with the Kings, he was named an NBA All-Star three times and was a key player in their run to the two thousand two Western Conference Finals.

Renowned for his shooting prowess, Stojaković made one thousand seven hundred sixty three-point field goals throughout his career, ranking fourth all-time upon his retirement. He won the NBA Three-Point Contest twice and secured an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in two thousand eleven. His international career was equally impressive, leading the FR Yugoslavian national team to gold medals at the two thousand one FIBA EuroBasket and the two thousand two FIBA World Championship.

After announcing his retirement from professional basketball on December nineteenth, two thousand eleven, Stojaković's legacy continued as the Sacramento Kings retired his number on December sixteenth, two thousand fourteen. Recognized as one of the greatest European basketball players, he has received numerous accolades, including the Euroscar Basketball Player of the Year and the Mister Europa Player of the Year twice. In two thousand twenty-one, he was named one of the seventy-five Greatest International Players Ever by HoopsHype.