Žarko Paspalj

Žarko Paspalj (Serbian Cyrillic: Жарко Паспаљ) (born March 27, 1966) is a retired Serbian professional basketball player and current sports administrator. Since 2009 he's been vice-president of the Serbian Olympic Committee.

From 1982 until 1998, he played for Budućnost, Partizan, San Antonio Spurs, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Panionios, Paris Racing, Aris, and Virtus.

For years, he was also an automatic choice for the Yugoslav national team, representing his country in two Olympics, 1 World championship, and 4 European championships.

Early life

Paspalj was born in Pljevlja, SR Montenegro, in SFR Yugoslavia. His Serbian forester father Jovan from a small village on the slopes of Kozara in Bosanska Krajina moved to Pljevlja on business as he dealt in lumber trade. Once there he got married to a local woman Mileva and stayed on.

When young Žarko was 10 years old, his father moved the family to Titograd because he got a job there. Žarko took up basketball and soon distinguished himself in the youth system of KK Budućnost.

Playing career

Early days in Titograd

Žarko Paspalj began his pro career in 1982 when at age 16 he got moved up to Budućnost's first team where he was part of a talented generation alongside the likes of Zdravko Radulović and Luka Pavićević. Back then, Budućnost was a small, unambitious side that essentially served as talent feeder for bigger Yugoslav league clubs like Partizan,......
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