Kresimir Cosic Hall of Fame NBA

Kresimir Cosic was a trailblazer who reshaped the role of the big man and opened the door for European players on the global stage. A gifted 7-footer with guard skills, vision, and shooting touch, Ćosić starred at Brigham Young University, where his all-around game was revolutionary for the early 1970s.

Despite being drafted by the NBA twice—first by the Portland Trail Blazers (1972) and then by the Los Angeles Lakers (1973)—Ćosić famously turned down lucrative professional contracts to return home. He led Yugoslavia to an Olympic Gold Medal in 1980 and two World Championships, paving the way for future European legends like Dražen Petrović and Toni Kukoč. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Cosic's Awards and Records

• FIBA Hall of Fame (Inaugural Class, 2007)
• College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
• 2x UPI All-American (1972, 1973)
• 11 Retired by BYU Cougars
• FIBA Order of Merit (1994)
• Best Croatian Athlete of the 20th Century

National Teams

Yugoslavia