Mirza Delibašić facts for kids
Delibašić with Real Madrid in the early 1980's
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 9 January 1954 Tuzla, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia |
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| Nationality | Bosnian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 December 2001 (aged 47) Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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| Listed height | 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 87 kg (192 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1976 / Undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1968–1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 1993–1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1968–1972 | Sloboda Tuzla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972–1980 | Bosna | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–1983 | Real Madrid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Juve Caserta | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1993–1994 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mirza Delibašić (born January 9, 1954 – died December 8, 2001) was a famous Bosnian professional basketball player and later a coach. He is remembered as one of the greatest shooters in European basketball history.
Mirza Delibašić was recognized as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. He was also honored by being added to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2008, he was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. These honors show how important he was to the sport.
Contents
Early Life and Sports Beginnings
Mirza Delibašić was born in Tuzla, which was then part of Yugoslavia. His father, Izet, was from Kakanj, and his mother, Zajkana, was from Ljubuški.
When he was young, Mirza first showed talent in tennis. He was very good at it! However, by the age of fourteen, he decided to switch to basketball. This decision changed his life and the history of European basketball.
A Star on the Court: Club Career Highlights
Mirza Delibašić, often called Kinđe, started his basketball journey at just 15 years old. His first team was KK Sloboda Dita in Tuzla. Just three years later, in 1971, he joined KK Bosna.
Leading KK Bosna to Glory
Mirza became a true leader for KK Bosna. He helped his team win the prestigious EuroLeague Championship in 1979. This was a huge achievement for the club and for Mirza.
Playing for Real Madrid
After his time with Bosna, Delibašić moved to Spain. He joined Real Madrid, one of the biggest basketball clubs in Europe. He quickly became one of their best players ever. He played alongside other legends like Dražen Petrović.
Mirza Delibašić and Dražen Dalipagić were teammates on the Yugoslavian national basketball team. They also played together for Real Madrid. In a famous game in 1983 against Cibona in Zagreb, Delibašić scored 26 points and Dalipagić scored 33. Even though Cibona lost, their fans gave the Bosnian stars a standing ovation. This showed how much they respected Mirza's amazing skills.
A Sudden End to His Playing Career
In the summer of 1983, at 29 years old, Delibašić left Real Madrid. He signed with an Italian team, JuveCaserta. His former coach from KK Bosna, Bogdan Tanjević, was coaching there.
During preseason training in August 1983, Mirza faced a serious health issue. This illness meant he could no longer play professional basketball. He had to retire at only 29 years old. It was a sad moment for basketball fans everywhere.
National Team Success
Mirza Delibašić achieved incredible success with the senior Yugoslavian national basketball team. He won almost every major international tournament.
- He won a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
- He won the EuroBasket gold medal two times, in 1975 and 1977.
- He also won the FIBA World Cup gold medal in 1978.
These victories cemented his place among the greatest European basketball players.
Awards and Accomplishments
Mirza Delibašić earned many awards and honors throughout his career:
Professional Career Honors
- 2× Yugoslav League Champion: (1978, 1980)
- Yugoslav Cup Winner: (1978)
- EuroLeague Champion: (1979)
- FIBA Club World Cup Champion: (1981)
- Spanish League Champion: (1982)
- FIBA's 50 Greatest Players: (1991)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Sportsman of the 20th century: (2000)
- FIBA Hall of Fame: (2007)
- 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors: (2008)
Coaching Career
Even after his playing career ended, Mirza Delibašić stayed involved in basketball. He lived in Sarajevo during the difficult siege of the city from 1992 to 1996.
During this time, he coached the new Bosnian national basketball team. He led them at EuroBasket 1993 in Germany, where they finished in 8th place. This was a remarkable achievement for a new team.
Personal Life and Legacy
Mirza Delibašić married his girlfriend Branka in the late 1970s. Their son, Dario, was born in December 1979. They later divorced in 1980.
In 1986, Mirza married Slavica Šuka, who was also a basketball player. They had a son named Danko in October of the same year.
Mirza Delibašić passed away in 2001 in Sarajevo at the age of 47, due to health problems. Thousands of people attended his funeral. He was buried next to his friend, singer Davorin Popović, in Bare Cemetery's Alley of Greats. After his death, the arena of his former club, KK Bosna, was renamed Mirza Delibašić Hall in his honor. This shows how much he was loved and respected.
See also
- Yugoslav First Federal Basketball League career stats leaders
- Mirza Delibašić Memorial
