FIBA Basketball World Cup Legend: Dino Radja

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Most people remember the 1994 FIBA World Championship in Canada as the first for a United States squad consisting of NBA players.

Two years earlier, the Americans had taken a Dream Team to the Barcelona Olympics and cruised to the gold medal so there was plenty of excitement in Toronto when an entirely new USA side of NBA superstars showed up.

There were some terrific players in the other national teams, too, including one scoring machine with Croatia.

His name was Dino Radja.

A 2.11m power forward/center who had shone for Jugoplastika Split in the former Yugoslavia and then in Italy with Messaggero, Radja brought a lot of attention to the Croatia team because he, too, was an NBA player.

He had just completed his rookie season with the Boston Celtics.

Radja had been solid, averaging 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for one of the NBA's most famous clubs.

Despite the tragic death of Croatian legend Drazen Petrovic in a 1993 car accident, many anticipated another title showdown between the United States and the Croatians.

The two countries had squared off in the Gold Medal Game in Barcelona, and the Americans had won easily.

Croatia oozed with talent.

They had Radja, Toni Kukoc, Arijan Komazec, Stojan Vrankovic and other skillful players.

The rematch didn't happen as Croatia fell 66-64 to Russia in the Semi-Finals.

Radja had 16 points and 14 rebounds in that contest, but struggled from the field, making just four of 16 shots.

He also had some costly misses at the free-throw line, sinking just eight of 14 (57.1%).

Radja returned to his better form against Greece in the battle for third place, pouring in 22 points and corralling eight boards in a 78-60 triumph as Croatia reached the podium.

By the end of the World Championship, Radja had scored at least 22 points in six of the eight games.

He finished as the second-leading scorer in the competition behind Andrew Gaze, who averaged 23.9 for Australia.

Radja played in numerous other tournaments with Croatia.

He stayed with Boston through the 1996-97 season before returning to Europe and joining Panathinaikos.

The clubs to enlist the services of the giant Croatian after Pana were KK Zadar, Olympiacos, KK Cibona and KK Split.

With Croatia, Radja never reached the top of the podium like he did when he first played in international competitions with the former Yugoslavia.

He was in the Yugoslavian sides that won European titles in 1989 and 1991.

FIBA