Lakers’ Divac Gets 1-Year Deferment, Yugoslavia Says

Vlade Divac, Yugoslavia’s star center, was granted a one-year deferment of his military service today, clearing the way for him to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, the state Tanjug news agency reported.

Divac, who signed with the Lakers last month and is at the club’s training camp, was originally scheduled to start his compulsory military service on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Yugoslav team sources told the Associated Press that Divac had been granted a three-year deferment. The state-run Vecernje Novosti newspaper carried a similar report at that time, quoting unofficial sources.

Tanjug suggested today that Divac could get another year’s deferment next year.