By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
PAOK Thessaloniki retired the jersey of club legend Bane Prelevic Saturday (1/4). Prelevic, regarded as one of the top scorers in Europe during the 1990s’, played for the Greek side from 1988 to 1996 and then again in 1999-2000 before his retirement.
Prelevic led PAOK to winning the 1991 FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup (renamed to Saporta Cup later) and the 1994 Korac Cup. The Serbian player was named the FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup top scorer in 1992 while being the Finals’ top scorer in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Under Prelevic’s leadership, PAOK reached the 1993 Final Four, losing to Toni Kukoc’s Benetton Treviso in the semifinal. With the Thessaloniki side, Prelevic also won the 1992 Greek League championship and the 1995 Greek Cup, where he was also the MVP and leading scorer.
Prelevic said that the reason his jersey hadn’t been retired so far was because he didn’t want such a ceremony. “For many years I had a different opinion. It’s not the fault of any management. I didn’t want something like that. But now president Thanasis Chatzopoulos convinced me.”
Among those who sent Prelevic congratulatory messages via video was former NBA champion and three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic. “Congratulations Bane,” Stojakovic said. “It’s a moment that every player dreams of. Your name is connected to the city. As a former teammate and PAOK fan, thank you so much.”
“Bane… you deserve it buddy,” said two-time NBA champion and member of the Chicago Bulls‘ first dynasty Cliff Levingston, who played for PAOK in 1992-93. He was accompanied by Ken Barlow, Prelevic’s teammate from 1990 to 1993.
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