Croatian · Drniš, Croatia, Yugoslavia · Born 22 January 1964Stojko Vranković is a Croatian basketball executive and former center who won a EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos and played five NBA seasons, including with the Boston Celtics.
Stojko Vranković went undrafted despite standing 7'2", signed with Boston as a free agent, and then, at Panathinaikos in 1996, blocked a potential game-winning shot at the EuroLeague quarterfinal buzzer that put the club on course for its first-ever European title alongside Dominique Wilkins — a moment that mattered more than anything that appeared on his NBA statistical line.. Standing 7'2", he began his career with hometown club Zadar in 1982, developing into one of the most feared shot-blockers in European basketball, and went on to play for Aris in Greece before signing with the Boston Celtics in 1990, going undrafted despite his imposing size. Vranković played parts of five NBA seasons across three separate stints with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers, though he made only a modest offensive impact, averaging 2.8 points per game. His greater success came in Europe, particularly with Panathinaikos, where in 1996 he combined with Dominique Wilkins to win the club's first-ever EuroLeague title, memorably blocking a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer in the quarterfinal against Benetton Treviso. Internationally, Vranković won Olympic silver medals with Yugoslavia in 1988 and with newly independent Croatia in 1992, the latter alongside close friend Dražen Petrović, whose funeral Vranković served as a coffin bearer at following his death in 1993. Vranković retired in 2001 after a final season with Fortitudo Bologna, and later served as president of the Croatian Basketball Federation from 2016 to 2022.
Winning the 1996 EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos as one of the competition's premier defensive centers
How They Played
Towering shot-blocking specialist with a strong defensive presence in the paint
Lasting Impact
A dominant defensive presence in European basketball and a respected administrator for Croatian basketball after his playing career
Career Honours
- EuroLeague champion (1996)
- 2x Olympic silver medal (1988, 1992)
- Greek League champion (1990)
- President of the Croatian Basketball Federation (2016-2022)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Zadar | 1982–1989 | — |
| Aris | 1989–1990 | — |
| Boston Celtics | 1990–1992 | — |
| Panathinaikos | 1992–1996 | — |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 1996–1997 | — |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1997–1999 | — |
| Fortitudo Bologna | 1999–2001 | — |
Croatian Athletes