Divac Given One-Year Deferment From Military, Report Claims

Vlade Divac, the Lakers’ first-round draft choice from Yugoslavia, has been given a one-year, not a three-year, deferment of his military obligation, the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug reported Monday.

According to previous reports out of Belgrade, Divac was granted a three-year deferment from mandatory service. A Laker spokesman said Monday that the team has received no official notice that Divac, who signed a multiyear contract with the Lakers last month, was to report to military duty or that he has received an extension.

“The only thing I can say is that Vlade’s team (in Yugoslavia) told me it was a three-year deferment,” said Marc Fleisher, Divac’s New York-based agent. “But I have been told that, normally, the army only grants one-year deferments, so, this is not unusual. Actually, we’ve never been notified that Vlade’s ever been told to report to (military) service.”

Tanjug’s news release stated that Divac, 21, probably will be able to secure another year’s deferment next summer.

All able-bodied Yugoslav men are required to serve one year in the military between ages 19 and 27. Divac, according to previous wire-service reports, had been served notice to report to a Yugoslav military outpost in Trebinji today or be prosecuted.

Divac is working out and taking English lessons in Los Angeles, and is expected to participate in the Lakers’ training camp starting Oct. 3 in Honolulu.