Vlade
Divac | 21
Career Highlights
• Earned first selection to NBA All-Star Game in 2001
• Ranked 12th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.503) in 1999-2000
• Ranked 2nd on the Kings in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.0
rpg, 10th in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and blocked shots (1.02 bpg)
in 1998-99
• Led the Kings in rebounding 17 times, in assists 12 times and
in scoring 10 times, and notched 20 double-doubles in 1998-99
• Led the Hornets in 1997-98 in blocked shots (1.47 bpg) and was
2nd on the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and steals (1.30 spg)
• Led the Hornets in 1996-97 in blocked shots (2.22 bpg, 7th in
NBA), steals (1.27 spg) and minutes (35.1 mpg) and ranked 2nd in rebounding
(9.0 rpg)
• Registered his 1,000th career blocked shot against the Boston
Celtics on 4/9/97
• Grabbed his 5,000th career rebound against the Phoenix Suns on
2/17/97
• Blocked a career-high and Hornets' franchise-record 12 shots,
adding 18 points and 9 rebounds, against the New Jersey Nets on 2/12/97
• Recorded his 4th career triple-double, with 10 points, a career-high
13 assists and 10 rebounds, against the Vancouver Grizzlies on 4/5/96
• Scored a career-high 33 points against the Denver Nuggets on 4/8/94
• Matched a Lakers' franchise record with 13 offensive rebounds
against the L.A. Clippers on 11/16/93
• Led the Lakers in scoring once (1993-94), in rebounding five times
(1990-91, 1992-93 to 1995-96) and in blocked shots four times (1989-90,
1990-91, 1992-93, 1994-95)
• Ranks 3rd in Lakers' franchise history with 833 blocked shots
• Appeared in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls and
has averaged 12.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.4 apg in 63 career NBA Playoff games
• Named to the 1989-90 NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging
8.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg for the Lakers
• Earned silver medals with Yugoslavia at the 1988 and 1996 Olympic
games
Position: C
Born: 02/03/68
Height: 7-1 / 2,16
Weight: 260 lbs. / 117,9 kg.
From: Serbia-Montenegro
2003-04
Statistics
PPG 9.9
RPG 5.70
APG 5.3
EFF + 14.96
BACKGROUND
A skilled shooter, passer, rebounder and shotblocker, Vlade Divac has
become one of the most versatile centers in the NBA, playing seven solid
seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before moving to Charlotte and Sacramento
and continuing his fine all-around play.
2001-02:
Averaged 11.1 ppg (.472 FG%, .231 3pt%, .615 FT%), 8.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.99
spg, 1.18 bpg, and 30.3 mpg in starting all 80 games in which he played...Ranked
among the NBA leaders in rebounding (tied for 19th), field goal percentage
(31st), and blocks (30th)…Scored in double figures 52 times, including
20-plus points in three games…Grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 28
games...Recorded the team’s only triple-double of the season at
Boston on 2/6/02...Posted 24 double-doubles... Led the team in scoring
twice, in rebounding 31 times, and in assists 17 times…Dished out
five or more assists 28 times...Registered three or more steals five times
and three-plus blocks 14 times…Played 40 or more minutes seven times…Tied
the ARCO Arena record with 12 offensive rebounds versus Dallas on 12/2/01…Missed
one game with a strained right shoulder on 1/13/02 and one game with a
sprained right knee on 1/5/02 …Top Single-Game Performances: Seventh
career triple-double came at Boston on 2/6/02, totaling 15 points (5-9
FG, 5-5 FT), 14 rebounds, a season-high 10 assists, one steal, and one
block...Scored a season-high 27 points (11-20 FG, 5-9 FT) with eight rebounds,
eight assists, and two steals in 43 minutes on opening night versus Seattle
on 10/30/01...Totaled 18 points (7-18 FG, 4-12 FT), a season-high 19 rebounds,
seven assists, and two steals in 43 minutes versus New Jersey on 11/24/01…Recorded
25 points (10-15 FG, 5-7 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, and one block
versus San Antonio 11/4/01…Tallied 11 points (3-7 FG, 5-8 FT), 17
rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block versus the LA Lakers.
2000-01:
Averaged 12 ppg (48.2 FG%, 28.6 3pt%, 69.1 FT%), 8.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.07
spg, 1.15 bpg and 29.9 mpg in starting 81 games...NWT-NBA suspension in
one game (3/14)...Ranked among the NBA's top-40 in rebounding (23rd),
field-goal percentage (20th) and blocks (37th)...Scored 10+ points in
49 games...Scored 20+ points in 11 games...Scored 30+ points once (1/2
vs. Phoenix)...Grabbed 10+ rebounds in 27 games...Recorded 19 double-doubles...Led
team in rebounding in 18 games (inlcuding five ties)...Finished third
behind Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson in the Sprite NBA All-Star
2001 Voting for Western Conference centers...Scored 10,000th career point
with a reverse layup with 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter on 11/14
vs. Orlando...Recordedeight points (4-6 FG, 0-1 3pt), three rebounds,
one assist and two steals in nine minutes off the bench in making his
first All-Star appearance on 2/11 at the MCI Center, Washington, D.C...Recorded
a career-high 34 points (11-15 FG, 12-16 FT), 12 rebounds, six assists,
one steal and two blocks in 43 minutes on 1/2 vs. Phoenix...Grabbed a
season-high 19 rebounds on 2/20 vs. Atlanta...Dished out a season-high
seven assists on 11/12 vs. Dallas, 12/22 vs. Vancover and 1/17 vs. Boston...Recorded
a season-high six blocks on 2/22 at Washington...Recorded 21 points (10-11
FG, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in 36 minutes
on 3/20 vs. Houston
1999-2000:
Recorded 20 points, 12 boards and 9 assists in a 95-92 loss to Minnesota
on 4/7...Logged a triple-double, totaling 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11
assists in a 117-95 win over Philadelphia on 4/2...Posted 24 points and
12 rebounds in a 98-86 win over Washington on 3/21...Netted 12 points
and 15 rebounds in a 98-78 win over the L.A. Clippers on 3/15...Recorded
a game-high 27 points and snared 11 boards in a 105-92 win over Charlotte
on 3/8...Notched 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 130-109 win over Dallas
on 3/6...Logged 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 104-94 loss to Indiana
on 2/4...Totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 111-103 win over Orlando
on 1/20...Posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in a 114-99 win at Golden State
on 1/15...Tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 119-103 loss in Phoenix
on 12/18...Registered 21 points and 6 rebounds in a 109-95 loss in New
Jersey on 12/6...Tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds in a 110-100 loss in
Atlanta on 12/2...Scored 17 points in a 111-102 win in Orlando on 11/30...Posted
14 points (7-11 FG) and 11 rebounds in a 103-94 victory in Dallas on 11/19...Totaled
14 points (6-9 FG) and 12 rebounds in a 126-116 victory over Denver on
11/14
1998-99:
Ranked 2nd on the Kings in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg, 10th
in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and blocked shots (1.02 bpg)...Led the
Kings in rebounding 17 times, in assists 12 times and in scoring 10 times,
and notched 20 double-doubles...Totaled game-highs of 29 points (9-14
FG) and 17 rebounds, and added 4 assists, in a 99-95 victory over the
Vancouver Grizzlies on 5/5...Logged team-highs of 27 points (13-23 FG)
and 15 rebounds, and added 3 assists, in a 104-100 overtime win over the
San Antonio Spurs on 4/27...Posted team-highs of 28 points (10-15 FG)
and 9 rebounds, and added 3 assists, in a 105-102 victory over the Dallas
Mavericks on 4/24...Registered 21 points (9-13 FG), team-high 15 rebounds
and 8 assists in a 110-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets on 4/10...Notched
a triple-double, with 11 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and 10 assists,
in a 112-106 overtime win over the Seattle SuperSonics on 4/6...Recorded
team-highs of 19 points (8-8 FG, 3-3 FT) and 9 assists, and grabbed 8
rebounds, against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 4/3...Totaled a team-high
20 points (7-13 FG, 5-6 FT) and game-highs of 12 rebounds and 7 assists
against the Portland Trail Blazers on 3/31...Posted 23 points (2-3 3FG),
a game-high 10 rebounds and 7 assists in a 111-109 victory over the L.A.
Lakers on 3/26...Registered game-highs of 22 points and 17 rebounds, and
added 6 assists, in a 115-105 win over the Washington Wizards on 2/25
1997-98:
Scored 20 points (9-10 FG, 2-2 FT) and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 109-103
win over the New Jersey Nets on 4/15...Totaled 13 points and 14 rebounds
against the Indiana Pacers on 3/27...On the injured list from 1/21 to
2/28, missing 18 games, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on 1/20
to repair cartilage damage in his left knee...Posted 18 points (9-14 FG),
7 rebounds and 3 assists in a 98-90 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies
on 1/9...Registered a game-high 25 points (11-13 FG, 3-4 FG), 9 rebounds,
3 assists and 3 blocked shots against the Seattle SuperSonics on 1/6...Recorded
23 points (9-13 FG, 5-5 FT), a game-high 11 rebounds and 4 assists in
a 96-88 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 12/26...Totaled 17 points,
a season-high 18 rebounds and 3 assists against the L.A. Lakers on 12/20...Posted
team-highs of 21 points (9-16 FG) and 12 rebounds and added 4 assists
in a 99-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 12/17...Registered 12 points,
a game-high 14 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in a 95-82 victory over the
Toronto Raptors on 12/9...Recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and
3 blocked shots in a 119-102 win over the Miami Heat on 11/21...Totaled
18 points, 13 rebounds and 4 steals in an 89-82 victory over the Indiana
Pacers on 11/8...Posted 15 points (6-7 FG, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 assists
and 3 blocked shots in a 107-92 win over the Washington Wizards on 11/7
1996-97:
Overshadowed by more spectacular teammates like Glen Rice and Anthony
Mason, Divac turned in a solid all-around season in his first year in
Charlotte, cementing his status as one of the most talented and versatile
centers in the NBA...Playing a team-high 81 games (he sat out one game
due to the flu), Divac ranked fourth on the team in scoring at 12.6 ppg,
second in rebounding at 9.0 rpg (19th in the NBA), first in blocked shots
at 2.22 bpg (seventh in the NBA), first in steals at 1.27 spg and third
in assists at 3.7 apg (tops among all NBA centers)...Divac shot .494 from
the field and posted 32 double-doubles, scoring in double figures 55 times
and getting 10+ rebounds 38 times. He scored a season-high 29 points in
a 97-93 loss at Portland on Dec. 6 and grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds
twice, in a 109-101 win over Golden State on Jan. 6 and again in a 102-100
overtime win over Denver on Jan. 13. He handed out a season-high 10 assists
in a 115-101 win over Minnesota on Feb. 4 and set a franchise record with
a career-high 12 blocked shots in a 113-100 win over New Jersey on Feb.
12...Divac averaged 18.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocked
shots in the three-game playoff sweep at the hands of New York. His best
game was the series opener, when he tallied 27 points and grabbed nine
rebounds.
1995-96:
Divac started 79 games for the Lakers, missing two due to minor injuries
and one because of a sinus infection. Although his scoring average dropped
from 16.0 to 12.9 points per game, he shot better than 50 percent for
the third year in a row, posting a .513 mark, and led the team in scoring
seven times, including a season-high 29 points on Feb. 20 against the
Clippers. He scored 20 points or more 10 times...His most valuable contribution,
however, was his rebounding, as he averaged 8.6 rebounds per game and
joined George Mikan, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green
as the only players to lead the Lakers in rebounding four years in a row.
He led the team in rebounding 30 times and reached double figures on 29
occasions, with a season-high of 19 on March 31 at Toronto. He posted
24 double-doubles and one triple-double, the fourth of his career, getting
10 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 13 assists against Vancouver
on April 5... The versatile Divac also led the Lakers in assists seven
times, his average of 3.3 assists per game ranking second among NBA centers
to Hakeem Olajuwon's 3.6. He ranked 14th in the NBA in blocked shots at
1.66 per game...In four playoff games against Olajuwon and the Houston
Rockets, Divac was limited to 9.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists
per game, shooting .429 from the field.
1994-95:
Divac's terrific play in the middle helped the Los Angeles Lakers post
a 15-game turnaround and stage a return to the playoffs after a one-year
absence. Divac notched several career highs, including scoring (16.0 ppg),
assists (4.1 apg), blocked shots (2.18 per game), free-throw percentage
(.777), double-doubles (42), and minutes played (35.1 per game). An all-around
threat, he ranked in the NBA's top 40 in blocked shots (7th), rebounding
(11th), field-goal percentage (29th), assists (35th), steals (33rd), and
scoring (40th). He led the team in rebounding for the third time in five
seasons, with an average of 10.4 boards per outing...Divac was magnificent
down the stretch, filling up the scoring vacuum left when All-Star Cedric
Ceballos hurt his thumb in February. In March, Divac snagged a Player
of the Week Award after averaging 24.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists,
and 2.33 blocks during a three-game stretch. A month earlier he had recorded
the first back-to-back 20-20 performances (points and rebounds) for Los
Angeles since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pulled off the feat in December 1975.
Divac's three 20-20 efforts for the year led the league. A keen passer,
he averaged 7.1 assists during a 10-date stretch in February and March.
His season assists average was tops among NBA centers. He dished out 10
assists against the Miami Heat on January 8 on the way to his third career
triple-double (21 points, 11 rebounds)...A high-energy defender, Divac
became the first Los Angeles player to average more than 2 blocks per
game since Abdul-Jabbar in 1984-85. Divac swatted away a career-high 8
shots on December 23 against the Sacramento Kings, and on February 24
he hauled down a career-high-tying 24 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets.
He also showed off his shooting touch, fashioning a .507 field-goal percentage
and draining 62 of his final 71 free-throw attempts, including a team-season-high
string of 22 straight from March 31 to April 11...After missing the campaign's
final two games with the flu, Divac went on to have a slightly subpar
postseason (15.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.1 apg) as the Lakers upset the Seattle
Sonics before bowing to top-seeded San Antonio. He set a career playoff
high with 15 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the second-round
series.
1993-94:
Playing for a team that had lost A. C. Green and Byron Scott to free agency,
Divac became the Los Angeles Lakers' most experienced starter in 1993-94.
He continued to develop into one of the league's better all-around centers,
setting new career highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists...Divac appeared
in 79 games in his fifth NBA season, starting 73 times. He led the Lakers
in scoring (14.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) and ranked second in minutes
played to rookie Nick Van Exel. Ranked 12th in the NBA with 40 double-doubles...ivac's
scoring average was the lowest team-leading figure in the Lakers' Los
Angeles history. His rebounding mark placed him 12th in the league, and
his 307 total assists ranked second among NBA centers to David Robinson's
381...On November 16 against the Los Angeles Clippers, Divac hauled down
24 rebounds, the highest total for a Lakers player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's
25 against the Boston Celtics on March 18, 1979. Divac's 13 offensive
rebounds in that game equaled Magic Johnson's club record. On February
8 Divac recorded 7 blocks against the Phoenix Suns.
1992-93:
With his back mended but his psyche ailing because of the fighting in
his homeland, Divac appeared in all 82 games for the third time in four
seasons. He delivered then career highs in just about every category,
including scoring (12.8 ppg), rebounding (8.9 rpg), assists (2.8 apg),
blocked shots (1.71 per game), steals (1.56 per game), and minutes played
(30.8 per game). He scored more than 20 points on 12 occasions, including
a season-high 28 against the Detroit Pistons on March 21...Divac made
remarkable advancements in both passing and three-point shooting this
year, blossoming into a fine all-around center. He had more assists (232)
in the 1992-93 season than he had compiled in his previous three seasons
combined (227), and his 21 three-pointers were the most among NBA starting
centers...Divac started 33 straight games after the Lakers traded Sam
Perkins to the Seattle SuperSonics on February 22. During that stretch
he averaged 15.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He then tormented
the powerful Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs,
helping the Lakers to a two-games-to-none lead before the Suns closed
out the series with three straight victories. In the five games, Divac
averaged 18.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.40 blocked shots.
1991-92:
In his first two years on American hardwood, Divac had galloped along
for 164 consecutive regular-season games without so much as a sprained
ankle. This season, however, he missed a November 5 game against the Los
Angeles Clippers because of back spasms, briefly returned, underwent surgery
on November 27 to repair a herniated disk, and then sat out the next 44
games...Divac appeared in 36 games overall, 18 as a starter, as the Lakers
struggled through a season marred by Magic Johnson's retirement announcement
on November 7. Even in limited duty, Divac still ranked third among NBA
centers in steals with 55, and his .495 field-goal percentage was a Lakers
best. He scored a season-high 32 points against the Philadelphia 76ers
on March 29.
1990-91:
The durable Divac came into his own during the 1990-1991 season. He became
the Lakers' starting center during training camp and weathered the entire
82-game grind for a second straight season. He averaged 11.2 points and
shot a club-best .565 from the floor to rank fifth in the NBA. Divac also
led the Lakers with 8.1 rebounds per game, snapping A. C. Green's four-year
reign as the Lakers' rebounding leader... Divac proved to be an all-purpose
center who could block shots, swipe a pass or two, score, and clean the
glass. He was also a charismatic player who was unafraid to show his emotions
on court. He and Magic Johnson frequently exchanged passionate high-fives
and embraces-and their Lakers counterparts grew enthused in turn. Divac's
106 steals were tops on the Lakers and third among NBA centers behind
David Robinson's 127 and Hakeem Olajuwon's 121...Divac and Johnson powered
the Lakers to the NBA Finals in Johnson's last season, but the Chicago
Bulls proved too much for Los Angeles, winning the series in five games.
Divac was a force in Game 4 as he scored a season-high 27 points.
1989-90:
The Lakers made Divac a first-round NBA draft pick only days after Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar played his last NBA game. Needless to say, Los Angeles needed
immediate help at center from its Yugoslavian rookie. Divac responded
with 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game, shooting .499
from the field. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a berth on the NBA
All-Rookie First Team...Divac and A. C. Green were the only Lakers to
appear in all 82 games in 1989-90. He scored a season-high 25 points against
the Sacramento Kings on January 15 and had a season-high 14 rebounds versus
the Miami Heat on January 7.
PRE-NBA:
Although he never played college ball, Divac put in five pro seasons in
his home country before joining the Lakers in 1989. In the 1988 Seoul
Olympics, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds as a Yugoslavian team
that also featured Drazen Petrovic, Dino Radja, and Toni Kukoc took the
silver medal. He competed against the Boston Celtics in the 1988 McDonald's
Open...He had left home at age 12 to pursue a basketball career, and at
16 he had signed a professional contract with Sloga, for whom he played
two years. He moved on to Partizan and averaged 20.0 points and 11.0 rebounds
over a three-year stretch. Divac led the Yugoslavian Junior Team to a
gold medal at the 1985 World University Games.
PERSONAL
• Name is pronounced VLAH-day DEE-vats
• Wedding was attended by over 1000 people
• Vlade and his wife, Ana, have two sons and an adopted daughter
from Belgrade, Yugoslavia
• Founded the "Divac Fund" through the St. John Foundation
to help raise money for children affected by the war in Yugoslavia
• Enjoys music, his favorite groups being the Red Hot Chili Peppers
and the Rolling Stones
• Was a guest on Larry King LIve and The Tonight Show in 1999
• Has appeared in the movies "Eddie" and "Driving
Me Crazy" and the TV shows "Coach" and "Married With
Children"
• Has appeared in numerous television spots and this season will
appear in an international television commercial promoting TNT on NBA
broadcasts |