Zoran "Moka" Slavnić

The first thing Slavnić did when he arrived in Šibenik in the summer of 1979 was to study the roster. He knew he could not count on the presence of Aleksandar Petrović, who had already been in Zagreb for three years, but someone informed him that Aleksandar's younger brother was playing for the youth team.

"I want to see him," Slavnić said, and soon found himself watching a Šibenka youth game, his eyes fixed on a kid with messy hair who was barely 15 years old, going head-to-head with players two and three years his senior. "Moka" didn't need to see anything more. He realized that this brazen youngster was the next big star, something different, who had what it took to surpass everyone. At the men's team's next practice, Dražen Petrović found himself face-to-face with Slavnić himself, who pushed him to bring out his absolute best. Daily friction with a basketball player of the caliber of the Plavi's mastermind matured Dražen; he was ready to be thrown into the deep end to show if he could swim. Zoran simply followed a well-trodden path, reproducing what he himself had experienced in the late 1960s when, at the age of 17, he made his debut for Red Star.

Nurtured on the principles and values of Yugoslavian basketball—which dictated that age was just a number and talent was what truly mattered—"Moka" saw that Dražen's talent, combined with hard work, simply knew no bounds. Perhaps that is why, on that afternoon in Belgrade and fully aware of his words, he uttered the line that left his fellow journalists speechless. Quickly brushing off questions about the game, Slavnić told them:

"There is a kid in Šibenik who will become better than me, Kićanović, and Delibašić. Remember his name, it's Dražen Petrović."

The journalists smiled, and as much as they respected "Moka," they couldn't help but view his words as an exaggeration. A 15-year-old kid was going to become better than the three top Yugoslavian guards? Slavnić, however, knew exactly what he was saying. He was determined to trust the youngster and give him the chance to prove his worth. "Moka" was the teacher and Dražen was the student. The classroom was the hardwood of "Baldekin," the hoops were the blackboard, and the ball was the textbook. Frequently during practice, Slavnić would challenge Petrović to one-on-one battles. And when he judged that he was ready, he threw him into the arena to fight with the lions. But he didn't leave him alone; he was always by his side to mentor and advise him. When both were on the court, Slavnić took over the playmaking duties, with Dražen playing as a shooting guard, watching his mentor guide the team.

On the few occasions Zoran was not on the court, the playmaker's baton passed into the hands of Petrović, who showed an abundance of determination and confidence, completely disproportionate to his age. When Slavnić decided to leave Šibenka before the start of the 1981-82 season, he knew he was leaving the team in good hands. He was certain that the student would soon surpass the teacher.

The myth of "Mozart" was beginning to be written, and he executed his very first sheet music with the help of Zoran "Moka" Slavnić...

By Antreas Tsemperlidis

     The game at the "Hala Sportova" had ended with a comfortable victory for Partizan against the top-tier newcomers. In the locker room corridor, journalists surrounded Šibenka's player-coach, they had so many questions to ask him.

Zoran "Moka" Slavnić had caused a major surprise that summer of 1979 upon his return from Spain, deciding to take on a dual role for a team that had just earned promotion after four years in the second division.

When the club returned to the top flight, the management approached the "General" of the Plavi in an effort to add undeniable quality to a roster of veterans, like Željko Karelija and Branko Macura, whose best years were behind them.

"Moka" agreed to also take over the technical leadership of the team, but because he did not yet hold a coaching license, his assistant, Vojislav Vezović, was formally listed as head coach on the scoresheet. However, everyone knew who was calling the shots.

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