Pedja Stojakovic Induction Speech | FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Known for his quick release and one-legged threes, he was spectacular on the hardwood. After starting his career in Belgrade and then Thessaloniki, he had a long and successful career in the NBA. He rode the momentum of the 2000 to 2001 season into an unforgettable FIBA Eurobasket 2001 in Istanbul where he was named MVP. He then played at the World Cup in Indianapolis where Yugoslavia won 81-78 to eliminate the USA from title contention and then beat New Zealand which was Kirk Penny's team. Well, we're getting some laughs here. Your team won but I believe according to records, Penny scored more points. 30 points and four triples compared to Fedra's 10 points and two triples. Well, both of you are Hall of Famers for tonight so you gotta be a little bit more forgiving for those statistics. But Yugoslavia went on to beat Argentina to win the title. With Sacramento, he dazzled with some memorable playoff runs taking the Kings on a wild ride before concluding his career with an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome on stage joining the FIBA Hall of Fame from Serbia, Predrag Stojakovic. Welcome to FIBA Hall of Fame. Congratulations. And now time to shoot his own shot. Good evening, everyone. Looks like everyone is taking shots at me tonight. But anyhow, this is a special night. Thank you, FIBA. This is a great honor. Thank you to FIBA's honors committee for this amazing recognition. In the last couple of days, thinking about my basketball career, trying to put my journey in a few words, I wanted to share with you a few moments that are important for me. I started to play at the age of 13 in a small town in Yugoslavia. A year later, a civil war happened in our country and me along with my family were forced to and leave everything behind us and start a new life in Belgrade, Serbia. A phone call from a coach of a Red Star, Predrag Banjarovic, came saying, I have heard about you and I would like to give you a chance. From that moment, basketball became my new home and my escape. And I still wonder, have I found basketball or has basketball found me? To this day, I'm not sure. Over the next 20 years of my career, I traveled the world, I have worked with amazing coaches, played with some great players, and I want to thank them all. We have pushed each other, we have worked and fought together, we became a family. Every country I went to, every team I played for, they were special in their own way. If I had to say something to the young kids who are starting to play basketball, it's this, wherever you are, no matter the circumstances you are in, don't be discouraged. If you really love the game, keep working hard because probably someone is watching. I want to thank my family for always being there for me and thank you all.