Zrinjevac Park, Zagreb - An outdoor exhibition is set to take place May 24-29 marking 29 years since the passing of basketball great Kresimir Cosic. As park visitors enjoy a light walk down Zrinjevac Park they will be able to reminisce on the rich legacy Kreso left behind during his short life of 46 years. 10 lit pannels will take them through the life of Kresimir Cosic and serve as a reminder of his role in world history. It is important to keep a memory of life works especially when they change the world, for the better.

Every year on May 25th we pay tribute to one of the greatest basketball players in history of the sport. 26 years has passed since Kreso lost his final game against limphoma in Baltimore, Maryland.

On this day we especially like to remember his good spirit, eternal optimism and the vision he had for Croatian and European basketball. Despite all the hurdles, he pushed for changes and every team he was a part of, he left it better and more complete. He helped develop the game of basketball in general, in his home country, Europe and at college. He was an innovator, his thinking was 15 years ahead of the game. He was a visionary and a basketball genius. The man ahead of his time is proof that despite all obstacles, with work and vision, we can do amazing things.

Due to the pandemic, this year's anniversary was marked only by laying flowers on Kreso's grave in Zagreb at the Mirogoj Cemetery and by his statue overlooking the Kresimir Cosic Hall in Zadar.

Participants: Kresimir Cosic's family, the Croatian Basketball Federation, members of the Kresimir Cosic Association and representatives from the Basketball Club Zadar.  

The Kresimir Cosic Association was working with the local government to renovate Kreso's first basketball hoop for his 25th death anniversary on May 25, 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic delayed the renovation but despite this setback, the basket and wall were successfully renovated and presented on September 4th, 2020. The basketball hoop represents more than a mere starting of a great career. It reminds us that despite all odds if we work hard and set our goals, we can become anything. Young generations are reminded that in the beginning, no one believed in Kreso, and despite this, he never lost faith and became the second foreigner to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Olympic medalist, FIBA Hall of Famer, FIBA Marrit Award recipient, All American and so much more. https://www.kresimircosic.com/en/kresimir-cosic/awards-and-acknowledgements/ 

Kresimir Cosic was the first player to play all 5 positions, a misunderstood center of the time, 20 years ahead of his time, a revolutionary, a medal-winning coach, and all of this because he didn't care when they said 'You'll never be good enough'.

The hoop is located in Zadar, by Kreso's childhood home, Frana Alfirevica street.

Vlado Vanjak, coach and personal friend, doc. Ivan Fattorini, family friend, and Ana Cosic Pajurin, Kreso's daughter presented Kreso's autobiography in Dubrovnik. 

Ana emphasized how when deciding on the book concept, she realized that it had to go chronologically because while you are reading it, you realize how much he matures as a man and as a basketball player with each turning page. 

Kreso started writing his autobiography in the 80's, just as Ana was born, and never quite finished it. Ana took all his writing and audio cassettes and complied a 400-page book. It’s based on all his memoirs and as Ana claims 'Every single word in that book is his. This is why it is so important for athletes to read it, he constantly emphasizes that a great player is not necessarily the one with the best stats. A great player, makes the team great.'

Vlado said that it was a privilege to know him and be his friend, because wherever he went, he just made everyone a better person. He said that little is known about his efforts in the Croatian embassy in the U.S. during the Homeland war in Croatia, how important he was for the country in helping explain the complex situation that was taking place at the time. 'He was very much at home in the U.S., he knew so many people wherever he went. In Utah he was a hero, they build a sports hall just so that they could fit 20,000 people that wanted to go see him play at BYU. He was the first foreigner All-American, can you believe this man rejected the NBA? Who does that? He was offered a huge contract but finally decided to go home, because he missed his friends and the Zadar way of life too much.'

Fattorini recalled memories of them visiting Italy where Kreso played and how he received the biggest standing ovation even though he was at the time playing for the competing team. 'Wherever he showed up, they applauded him, it would take us an hour to just walk down a street because everyone wanted an autograph, to talk to him, just to say hi.' 

The Visia Hall in Dubrovnik center was filled with nostalgic fans and young basketball players showing that he is not forgotten in any corner of Croatia and wider.