"In professional sports, the psychological intensity is extremely high. Every day you become more and more aware of your flaws and weaknesses. It is natural that I tried to answer existential questions."

Krešo

Resume

KREŠIMIR ĆOSIĆ

 

Born: November 26, 1948, Zagreb, Croatia

 

Died: May 25, 1995, Baltimore (USA), buried in Zagreb, Mirogoj cemetery

 

Position: center

 

Height: 211 cm

 

Clubs: 1965 – 1969 Zadar (Croatia), 1973 – 1976 Zadar (Croatia), 1976 – 1978 Brest Olimpija (Slovenia), 1978 – 1980 Sinudyne, Virtus Bologna (Italy), 1980 – 1983 Cibona (Croatia)

 

University: 1969 – 1973 Brigham Young University (USA)

 

Coaching career: 1973 Zadar, 1976 Brest Olimpija (player and coach), 1983 – 1984 Jugoplastika, 1984-1987 Yugoslavian national team, 1987 – 1988 Sinudyne (Virtus Bologna), 1988 – 1989 AEK, 1989 – 1990 Zadar, 1990 – 1992 AEK

 

Diplomacy:1992 - 1995 Deputy Ambassador in the Croatian Embassy in the USA

 

Player trophies (club): Yugoslavian championship with Zadar 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974 and 1975, Yugoslavian cup 1970, Italian championship with Sinudyne (Virtus Bologna) 1979 and 1980, Yugoslavian championship with Cibona 1982, Yugoslavian cup with Cibona 1981, 1982 i 1983, European cup with Cibona 1982.

 

National team medals (player): Silver Olympics 1968 and 1976, Gold Olympics 1980, Silver World championships 1967 and 1974, Gold World championships 1970 and 1978, Silver Eurobasket championship 1969, 1971 and 1981, Gold Eurobasket championship 1973, 1975 and 1977, Bronze Eurobasket championship 1979.

 

Coaching medals: Bronze medal from World championship 1986, Bronze medal from Eurobasket 1987.

 

Individual awards: 

  • Best scorer, 1970 World Championship Ljubljana
  • MVP Eurobasket 1971 and 1975
  • 1991 FIBA 50 most valuable players of all time
  • 2008 top 50 persons to contribute to Euroleague development
  • 1996 third international player to be inducted into the
    Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield (one of 6 players
    inducted that never played in the NBA)
  • 2001 Utah basketball hall of fame inductee
  • 2006 retirement of 11 jersey at Brigham Young University
  • College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
  • 2007 FIBA Hall of Fame inductee
  • Since 1998 the Croatian Cup bears the name of Krešimir Ćosić
  • 1996 Sport News (Croatia) – best Croatian athlete of all time
  • Croatian National Television Award for Best Croatian Athlete of the 20 th Century
  • 1971 First foreigner All American (2x)
  • 1972 first European drafted for the NBA
  • FIBA Order of Merit
  • Lifetime achievement award – City of Zadar
  • Freedom Award (USA)
  • Franjo Bučar Lifetime Achievement Award
  • ‘The Prince Branimir Order’ Acknowledgment