Shooting legend Peja Stojakovic calls it a day – NBA Update
Peja Stojakovic, one of the greatest sharp shooters ever to grace the NBA, has finally decided to call it quits. The 13 year veteran, who won the elusive NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks last season, announced his intention
to retire on Monday, while talking to ESPN.
The three times All-Star, who has career average of 17 points, had many takers even at the age of 34. However after years of back pain, the small forward has finally decided that the his body is no longer up for the physical challenges
involved in the game;
"When you start competing against your body more than you're preparing for the actual game," Stojakovic said, "it's a wakeup call."
Stojakovic has had an illustrious career in NBA. He was the first European ever to win an All-Star event in the form of ‘three point shootout’. He achieved the feat twice and now finishes his journey as the fourth all-time in regular
season three-point field goals made in the NBA.
Drafted in as the 14th overall pick in the 1998 draft, Stojakovic established himself one of the finest perimeter shooter in the league. He was the force behind Sacramento Kings resurgence in the early 2000’s and in
his break out third year with the franchise - 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds – he took the Kings to their first playoff series win against Phoenix Suns. They were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers that time around, but a year later, Stojakovic and the Kings
were up against the Lakers again and this time in the Western Conference finals.
The scandalous series, which was at the heart of the Tim Donaghy scandal, was stretched to seven games and by the end of it, the Kings suffered yet another heartbreak.
Peja did have his revenge against the Lakers though, be it 9 years later. Suited up as a Mav, the slick shooter saved his best for the Western Conference semifinals. In the game-4 of the series, he knocked 6 on 6 from the long
range as the Mavs routed the Lakers.
David Stern, the league commissioner, paid tribute to the incredible star in a statement;
"Peja will go down as one of the great shooters in the history of the NBA. His success was the result of a tireless work ethic and an unquenchable desire to be the best at what he did. Peja's legacy, however, goes way beyond his
3-point skills and that elusive Finals title he won last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Peja was part of the wave of international stars that helped introduce the world to the NBA game and inspired thousands of fans to begin playing the sport of basketball."
Stojakovic will stay in Dallas, for now, till the receipt of the championship ring.
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