Slijedeći brata Aleksandra, Dražen je upoznao košarku te je njegova strast ubrzo prerasla u fanatičnu odanost igri. Iako je mnogo vremena provodio igrajući košarku s prijateljima na lokalnom igralištu, nije mu bilo teško samome vježbati; tako da je ne mali broj puta sate i sate proveo sam na tom istom igralištu. Zbog želje za neprekidnim usavršavanjem, Dražen je budio respekt svojih suigrača, trenera i mnogobrojnih navijača. Njegov ozbiljni pristup igri mnogo puta je bio skriven iza velikog i iskrenog osmjeha u kojem su svi uživali.
Kako su njegove vještine napredovale tako su i rasli zahtjevi koje je pred sebe stavljao ovaj velikan hrvatske i svjetske košarke. Postao je vođa na terenu, te je svojom požrtvovnošću pokazao put kako treba nadigrati protivničku momčad. Kroz svoje nepogrešive izvedbe u dresovima Šibenke i Cibone, Dražen je promovirao Hrvatsku košarku na internacionalnom planu, te je vrlo brzo postao poznat pod nadimkom košarkaški Mozart. Taj nadimak je dobio zbog toga što je uspio košarku pretvoriti u umjetnost u kojoj je uvijek davao maksimum.
Postavio je nove standarde u igri, čak i van granica bivše države; prvo igrajući u Španjolskoj za Real Madrid, a kasnije i u NBA ligi igrajući za Portland I New Jersy.
Poginuo je u prometnoj nesreći , 7. lipnja 1993. godine, na autocesti kod njemačkog grada Ingolstadta, samo dan nakon posljednjeg nastupa u dresu hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije na kvalifikacijskom turniru za europsko prvenstvo u Wroclawu.
Na 47. rođendan košarkaškog virtuoza Dražena Petrovića 22.10.2011. godine otkriven je spomenik u njegovom rodnom Šibeniku. Otkrili su ga gradonačelnik Šibenika i Draženova majka. Rad kipara Kažimira Hraste postavljen je na trgu kraj sportske dvorane Baldekin, gdje je Dražen kao član Šibenke odigrao svoje prve utakmice.
Legendarna navijačka pjesma Ši-Ši-Šibenka:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAUloO7SWH8
Što je Dražen značio Šibeniku, što mu je donio, koliko je Šibenik živio s košarkom, s Draženom, sa KK Šibenkom:
Šibenka – Bosna 9.4.1983. Kraj utakmice i komentar...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRdVzLJTjc
EN:
Drazen Petrovic was born in Sibenik October 22, 1964. Raised along side big brother Aleksandar (Aco) by parents Biserka and Jole Petrovic, Drazen had a happy childhood. He enjoyed many activities including time in a chorus and long summer days on the seaside in his hometown of Sibenik.
He found basketball following the footsteps of his brother. But his passion grew into a fanatical devotion. While he would play regularly with his friends on the local open basketball court, he spent countless hours alone in the same spot refining his shooting skills. In his quest for continuous improvement, he drew admiration and respect from his peers, coaches and growing legions of fans. This set the stage for his pioneering career that followed soon after.
Drazen's serious approach to the game was sometimes camouflaged by his wide and sincere smile. But as his skills improved so did the expectations he put on himself. His personal drive developed in to fine leadership skills on the court and translated into many defeats for opposing teams. From his breakthrough performances in Croatia with Sibenka and Cibona teams to representing his homeland in international competition, Drazen became known as the Croatian Mozart. A title he earned by turning basketball into an artform.
He set new standards for the game across borders, first in Spain for Real Madrid and later with the Portland Trailblazers and New Jersey Nets of the NBA. Fans stood up to take notice of the mighty "Petro". However, his legend is now frozen in time.
He died in a car accident on June 7 1993, on the highway in the vicinity of the German town of Ingolstadt, one day after his last game in a Croatian national team jersey at the qualifications tournament for the European championship in Wroclaw.
INFO: http://www.drazenpetrovic.net/
On the 47th birthday of the basketball virtuoso Drazen Petrovic 22.10.2011 the monument was unveiled in his hometown of Sibenik. It was opened by the Mayor of Sibenik and Drazen's mother.The statue of Drazen,made by sculptor Kazimir Hraste was set in front of the Baldekin sports hall, where Drazen as a member Šibenka played his first games.
The legendary fan song Ši-Ši Šibenka from the years when Drazen played:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAUloO7SWH8
What Drazen meant to Sibenik, which brought him as far as Sibenik lived with basketball, with Drazen, with BC Šibenka:
Šibenka - Bosnia in 1983. End of the game and feedback ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRdVzLJTjc