By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the official announcement of his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame, Croatian legend Dino Radja described (or at least tried to, as he confessed) his overwhelming feelings and emotions ahead of receiving this once-in-a-lifetime honor.
“There isn’t a word to describe how I feel about this,” Radja said in an exclusive chat with Eurohoops. “Seriously, the word to describe how I feel hasn’t been invented yet. To describe how big this is.”
“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s an award for all the hard work. For every early wake-up. For every night staying up late. For all the things, I went through. I’m honored beyond imagination,” he added.
The blissfull Radja didn’t forget to give credit to all the people he’d worked with throughout his career since he believes that they played their own part on him evolving into someone worthy of a place in the Hall Of Fame.
“This is an award also for all my coaches and my teammates. They are all part of that. I wouldn’t be me without all of them,” Radja said to Eurohoops.
Throughout his career, Radja won numerous trophies, titles, medals and individual distinctions on every level. But there are two rather special accomplishments that he treasures above all others.
“My first European title with Jugoplastica (1989) was perhaps the most important one. And of course the game against the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympic Games. The silver medal we won. Those two moments are perhaps over everything else,” Radja told Eurohoops.
Only two Croatian players had been inducted into the Basketball Hall Of Fame before Radja. Kresimir Cosic in 1996 and Drazen Petrovic in 2002. Sadly, they both received the honor posthumously.
“Incredible players. I just hope I will live a bit longer than them,” Radja said.
Who is going to be the next Croatian player who will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame? Perhaps Toni Kukoc, the three-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and Radja’s teammate in both Jugoplastica and their country’s national team.
“He belongs there (Hall of Fame). I know he’s going to be happy for me. We are friends and I respect him a lot.”
Radja is an inspiring figure for the younger generations of Croatian players. Some of his “heirs” are already beginning to make a mark in the NBA and Radja believes that with the appropriate volumes of hard work, they can also find themselves in the Hall Of Fame one day.
“I wish they all see how much work I put into it. And follow it. It’s a proof that it’s possible. That if you work hard you can get there. Any of them can.”