Mirza Delibašić

In 2000, Mirza Delibašić was named Bosnia’s top athlete of all-time. Although he started out with a Bosnian title in tennis in 1968, he earned that award playing basketball. He played guard for Bosna Sarajevo (1972-1981), and led the team to the Yugoslav title in 1979 and a victory in the 1979 Euroleague. He then left to play for Real Madrid in Spain, winning the national title there in 1982. With the national team, Delibašić won every prize available. In 1975 and 1977, Yugoslavia won the European Championships, followed by a World Title in 1978 and Olympic gold in 1980. It should be noted that no American team was present in 1980, and that the U.S. was represented by the Christian “Athletes in Action” in 1978.

The 176-fold international experienced various health problems following the end of his career in 1983, and succumbed to lung cancer in 2001. His funeral in Sarajevo was attended by thousands of people, including many of his former teammates for the Yugoslav national team.