NBA’s Draft of Yugoslavian Star Stirs Excitement

The Lakers’ draft of Yugoslavian basketball star Vlade Divac raised eyebrows around the National Basketball Assn., and raised some cheers around San Pedro.

The large Slavic population in San Pedro could have its own idol if the 7-foot Divac works his way into the Laker lineup.

San Pedro High basketball Coach Jack Kordich probably echoed many of his neighbors’ sentiments when he said: “It shows the NBA is looking at the whole world as a market for players. I’m pleased. . . . It’s nice to see a fellow countryman in the NBA, especially for the Lakers. It kind of strikes home--it’s like somebody from your hometown making it. The curiosity level will definitely be high.

“The San Pedro community has got a celebrity now.”

Both Kordich and former San Pedro High star Zlatko Josic said Tuesday’s draft showed the increasing respect the NBA has for the international game in general and Yugoslavia’s players in particular. Along with Divac, forward Dino Radja, another Yugoslavian star, was drafted by the Celtics. However, the Yugoslavian team Thursday refused to grant Radja permission to leave the national team and join the NBA.

“It just shows how much they’ve improved,” said Josic, who is going to play for Clemson in the fall. “I’m pulling for ‘em--I would like for more of ‘em to come here. My goal is to go there and play for the Olympic team. This opens up doors.”

Josic said he was aware of Divac, thanks to a Yugoslavian sports sheet his father regularly gets. “I’ve read stuff about (Divac), and heard about him since the Olympics.”

Andrew Bonacich, the administrator of the Yugoslav-American Club of San Pedro, said the area’s Slavic population will try to make Divac feel at home.

Kordich predicted the toughest part of the move for Divac would be adjusting to a radically different life style and culture.

“I’m elated personally. I hope the man can fit in, and I hope they’re patient with him,” Bonacich said. “We’re all pulling for him. Several of us are going to Yugoslavia this summer. We hope to meet him. One of the first things we’ll do is invite him (to the club). There will be very renewed interest (in the Lakers).”

Kordich, who has seen Divac play a number of times, said Divac “is big enough. I think he’s good enough to play. It’s a matter of if he can stand the roughness of the NBA--which is much rougher than the international game--and he’ll have to adjust to man-to-man (defense). This guy is real graceful. I think the Lakers will try to get him on the weights right away.”

And if Divac starts to throw his weight around for the Lakers, watch out. San Pedro’s Yugoslavian community will have a genuine hero. “I guess we gotta get our Lakers tickets early,” Josic said.