Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle recently paid tribute to the late Croatian basketball legend Drazen Petrovic, lauding his impeccable shooting mechanics during an interview on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast.
Carlisle reminisced about Petrovic’s extraordinary shooting prowess, comparing him to some of the greatest shooters in basketball history.
“Petrovic was… I coached Reggie Miller, I played against Reggie Miller, I played with Reggie Miller on Summer League teams. Reggie Miller’s a great player,” Carlisle said.
He highlighted Petrovic’s ability to execute shots off the move with unparalleled precision and ease. “Petrovic could do it off the move maybe better than anybody I’ve ever seen. He could fly from one baseline to the other, turn, catch, shoot, swish it, and then land in the other team’s bench and make it look incredibly easy,” Carlisle recalled.
The Pacers coach emphasized Petrovic’s remarkable work ethic and dedication to perfecting his shooting technique, describing him as a “machine” on the court.
“He had amazing strong legs. And the guy was a machine the way he worked at shooting. His mechanics were perfect,” Carlisle noted.
Reflecting on Petrovic’s impact, Carlisle praised his agility, strength, and consistency in shooting, noting that he possessed the qualities of a top-tier shooter.
“He can stand out there and shoot. I can give you another guy. We had [Peja] Stojakovic with us the year we won the championship in Dallas. One day after practice, I watched Stojakovic make 96 out of 100 threes. F*cking unbelievable. It’s crazy. Petro was a guy that could have done that,” Carlisle remarked.
Carlisle’s remarks underscored Petrovic’s enduring legacy as one of the finest shooters to grace the basketball court. He credited Petrovic’s exceptional skills and tireless commitment to his craft as defining factors in his success.
“Dirk was a guy that could shoot in the 90s out of 100 from three. I saw him do that a lot. Jason Terry, the same way,” Carlisle added.
