View source for Dejan Bodiroga

{{Short description|Serbian basketball player (born 1973)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | honorific_prefix   = 
 | name               = Dejan Bodiroga
 | native_name        = Дејан Бодирога
 | native_name_lang   = sr
 | honorific_suffix   = 
 | image              = Dejan Bodiroga 2006.jpg
 | image_size         = 
 | image_upright      = 
 | smallimage         = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
 | smallimage_alt     =
 | alt                = 
 | caption            = Bodiroga in 2006
 | order              = 
 | office             = [[President (corporate title)|President]] of [[EuroLeague Basketball]]
 | status             = <!--If this is specified, overrides Incumbent.-->
 | term_start         = 11 June 2022
 | term_end           = <!-- Add data only when the actual term has ended, not for terms which will end in the future. (Per usage guideline.) -->
 | predecessor        = [[Jordi Bertomeu]]
 | successor          = 
 | nationality        = Serbian
 | alma_mater         = 
 | birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1973|3|2|df=y}}
 | birth_place        = [[Zrenjanin]], [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|SR Serbia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
 | occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Basketball player
* basketball executive
}} 
 | module             = 
{{Infobox basketball biography | embed = yes
| name         = Dejan Bodiroga
| image        = 
| image_size   =
| caption      = 
| height_m     = 2.05
| weight_kg    = 110
| league       =
| team         = 
| position     =
| draft_year   = 1995
| draft_round  = 2
| draft_pick   = 51
| draft_team   = [[Sacramento Kings]]
| career_start = 1989
| career_end   = 2007
| career_position = [[Small forward]] 
| career_number = 4, 10, 15
| years1       = 1989–1990
| team1        = [[KK Proleter Zrenjanin|Proleter]]
| years2       = 1990–1991
| team2        = [[KK Zadar|Zadar]]
| years3       = 1992–1994
| team3        = [[Pallacanestro Trieste|Trieste]]
| years4       = 1994–1996
| team4        = [[Olimpia Milano]]
| years5       = 1996–1998
| team5        = [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| years6       = 1998–2002
| team6        = [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| years7       = 2002–2005
| team7        = [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|Barcelona]]
| years8       = 2005–2007
| team8        = [[Lottomatica Roma|Virtus Roma]]
| highlights   = 
'''As a player:'''
* 3× [[EuroLeague]] champion ([[2000 EuroLeague Final Four|2000]], [[2002 EuroLeague Final Four|2002]], [[2003 EuroLeague Final Four|2003]])
* [[FIBA All-Time EuroStars Team]] (2007)
* [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]] (2008)
* 101 Greats of European Basketball (2018)
* [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team]] (2010)
* [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 Player of the Decade]] (2010)
* [[EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team]] (2025)
* 2× [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]] ([[2002 EuroLeague Final Four|2002]], [[2003 EuroLeague Final Four|2003]])
* 3× [[All-EuroLeague Team|All-EuroLeague First Team]]  ([[2001–02 Euroleague|2002]]–[[2003–04 Euroleague|2004]])
* [[EuroLeague Regular Season and Top 16 MVP|EuroLeague Top 16 MVP]] ([[2001–02 Euroleague|2002]])
* 4× [[FIBA EuroStar]] (1997–1999, 2007)
* 2× [[ULEB All-Star Game|ULEB All-Star]] (1993, 1994)
* [[FIBA Saporta Cup]] champion (1997)
* 2× [[DSL Sport#Golden Badge – Zlatna značka|Best Athlete of Yugoslavia]] (1998, 2002)
* 2× [[Awards of Olympic Committee of Serbia#Sportsman of The Year|Best Sportsman by Yugoslav Olympic Committee]] (1998, 2002)
* 2× [[Liga ACB]] champion (2003, 2004)
* [[Spanish Basketball Supercup|Spanish Supercup]] winner (2004)
* [[Spanish Basketball King's Cup|Spanish Cup]] winner (2003)
* [[ACB Most Valuable Player Award|Liga ACB MVP]] (1998)
* [[ACB Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Liga ACB Finals MVP]] (2004)
* [[All-Liga ACB Team|All-Liga ACB First Team]] (2004)
* [[Spanish Basketball Super Cup|Spanish Supercup]] MVP (2004)
* [[Spanish Basketball Cup|Spanish Cup]] MVP (2003)
* 3× [[Liga ACB All-Star Game|Liga ACB All-Star]] (1996, 1997, 2003)
* [[Lega Basket Serie A|Lega Serie A]] champion (1996)
* [[Italian Basketball Cup|Italian Cup]] winner (1996)
* 2× [[Lega Basket All Star Game|Italian All-Star]] (1993, 1994)
* 3× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion (1999–2001)
* [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP ]] (1999)
* 2× [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|Greek League Finals MVP]] (1999, 2000)
* [[HEBA Greek All-Star Game|Greek All-Star Game]] MVP (1999)
* [[Greek Basket League statistical leaders|Greek League assists leader ]] (2000)
* 3× [[HEBA Greek All-Star Game|Greek All-Star]] (1998, 1999, 2002)
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame|Greek League Hall of Fame]] (2022)
* [[FIBA Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player|FIBA World Championship MVP]] ([[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998]])
* [[FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player|FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP]] ([[1991 FIBA Under-19 World Championship|1991]])
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}} 
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|SRB}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Atlanta]]|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Basketball World Cup|FIBA World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998 Athens]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002 Indianapolis]]|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[EuroBasket|FIBA Eurobasket]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[EuroBasket 1995|1995 Greece]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[EuroBasket 1997|1997 Spain]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[EuroBasket 2001|2001 Turkey]]|Team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[EuroBasket 1999|1999 France]]|Team}}
}}
}}

'''Dejan Bodiroga''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Дејан Бодирога}}; born 2 March 1973) is a Serbian [[basketball]] executive and former professional player, who is currently the [[President (corporate title)|president]] of [[EuroLeague Basketball]].<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/34590267/euroleague-picks-dejan-bodiroga-new-president-marshall-glickman-ceo|title=EuroLeague selects Bodiroga as new president|date=September 14, 2022|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://basketnews.com/news-177954-dejan-bodiroga-officially-assigned-as-new-euroleague-president.html|title=Dejan Bodiroga officially assigned as new EuroLeague president|website=basketnews.com}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1390884/euroleague-announced-the-addition-of-dejan-bodiroga-as-president-and-marshall-glickman-as-acting-ceo/|title=EuroLeague announced Dejan Bodiroga as president and Marshall Glickman as acting CEO|date=September 14, 2022|website=Eurohoops}}</ref> In 1998 and 2002, he received the [[Golden Badge]] award for the best athlete of Yugoslavia, and the [[Yugoslav Olympic Committee]] also declared him the [[Awards of Olympic Committee of Serbia|Sportsman of the Year]]. He was named to the [[FIBA All-Time EuroStars Team]] in 2007. In 2018, he was named one of the 101 Greats of European Basketball. HoopsHype named Bodiroga one of the 75 Greatest International Players Ever in 2021.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://hoopshype.com/lists/76-greatest-international-players-ever-the-hoopshype-list/|title=76 greatest international players ever: The HoopsHype list|date=October 3, 2022}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1436169/heba-introduces-hall-of-fame-inducts-30-players-alphonso-ford-dino-radja-dejan-bodiroga-dominique-wilkins-roy-tarpley/|title=Greek League Hall of Fame welcomes Ford, Bodiroga, Radja, Wilkins, Tarpley|date=December 18, 2022|website=Eurohoops}}</ref>

During his playing career, he mainly played at the [[small forward]] position,<ref>[http://www.ciao.es/Dejan_Bodiroga__Opinion_1114201 Bodiroga: 2.05 m 110 kg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022141411/http://www.ciao.es/Dejan_Bodiroga__Opinion_1114201 |date=2017-10-22 }}, Ciao.es; accessed 21 October 2016,</ref> but he could also play [[point forward]], and at both [[combo guard|guard]] positions. A [[EuroLeague]] icon of the early part of the 2000s, Bodiroga was named to the [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]] in 2008, and to the [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team]] in 2010. He was also voted by fans the [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 Player of the Decade|EuroLeague's 2000–2010 Player of the Decade]]. At the [[sports club|club]] level, Bodiroga proved himself to be a symbol of basketball excellence, by lifting consecutive EuroLeague trophies in [[2002 EuroLeague Final Four|2002]] and [[2003 EuroLeague Final Four|2003]], with [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] and [[FC Barcelona Regal|FC Barcelona]], as he earned the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]] award both times. He also won each of the three major European national domestic basketball league titles: the [[Liga ACB|Spanish ACB League]], the [[Lega Basket Serie A|Italian A League]], and the [[Greek Basket League]]. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dražen Petrović Voted Best European Basketballer in History |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/drazen-petrovic-voted-best-european-basketballer-in-history/ |date=18 September 2013 |website=croatiaweek.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/top-10-international-players-never-played-nba |title=The top 10 international players who never played in the NBA|date=January 7, 2016 |publisher=sportskeeda.com |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latestbasketballnews.com/best-european-basketball-players-of-all-time/ |title=Best European Basketball Players of All Time|date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=latestbasketballnews.com |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref>

With the senior [[FR Yugoslavian national basketball team|FR Yugoslavian national team]], Bodiroga won three [[EuroBasket]] gold medals, in [[EuroBasket 1995|1995]], [[EuroBasket 1997|1997]], and [[EuroBasket 2001|2001]], as well as a bronze medal in [[EuroBasket 1999|1999]]. With FR Yugoslavia, he also won a silver medal at the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Summer Olympics]]. In addition to that, Bodiroga also won two [[FIBA World Cup]] gold medals with FR Yugoslavia, in [[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998]] and [[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002]], earning [[FIBA World Cup MVP|MVP honors]] in the former.

==Professional career==
{{BLP sources section|date=October 2016}}
===Yugoslavia (1989–1991)===
Bodiroga first started playing structured basketball at the age of 13. He enrolled in Zrenjanin's Mašinac (Servo Mihalj) basketball section, under supervision of local basketball enthusiast Rade Prvulov. At the age of fifteen, he sprung up to 2.05m, and was quickly incorporated into the first team squad, coached by [[Miodrag Nikolić]], a former [[OKK Beograd|OKK Belgrade]] and [[Yugoslavia national basketball team|SFR Yugoslav national team]] player in the 1960s.

His domestic career took off when, at 17, he was noticed by [[Krešimir Ćosić]] at a friendly youth tournament that featured Mašinac and [[KK Zadar|Zadar]] among others, where Bodiroga scored 32 points in a game that pitted two teams. Ćosić then brought Bodiroga for a week-long basketball camp in Zadar and eventually persuaded Bodiroga's family to allow their son to move away to Zadar. In the meantime Bodiroga signed a pre-contract with [[KK Vojvodina|Vojvodina]] so that when he finally went to Zadar in autumn 1989 he wasn't right away eligible for the first team, meaning that he first worked with coach Josip Grdović in the club's youth sections while simultaneously attending high school. After a year he was allowed to be moved into the full squad, then under head coach Slavko Trninić.<ref>[https://www.blic.rs/Intervju/185590/Fintom-poslao-Melouna-po-burek Ispovest: Dejan Bodiroga - Fintom poslao Melouna po burek], Blic.rs; 18 April 2010.{{in lang|sr}}</ref> After just one season in the first team, Bodiroga's stay in Zadar came to a premature end due to the impending war. Ćosić, his mentor, did everything in his power to help Bodiroga find a new club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=101 Greats: Dejan Bodiroga|url=http://www.euroleague.net/item/andniqrgmxm3ob6s|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL|language=en}}</ref>

===Italy (1992–1996)===
Originally, trials were arranged with [[AEK Athens B.C.|AEK]] and [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]], with both clubs offering a contract solely on the condition that Bodiroga become a naturalised [[Greece|Greek]] citizen. He ultimately refused the conditions and ended up traveling to Italy instead, joining a [[Pallacanestro Trieste|Stefanel Trieste]] emerging team, coached by [[Bogdan Tanjević]] and financially backed by the [[Stefanel]] clothing empire. In Trieste, he first captured the attention of the wider basketball public. Shortly after his arrival in the summer of 1992, he made an impact, averaging 21.3 points per game over 30 league matches and leading his team to the playoffs. There, however, they were quickly disposed of in the second round by the more experienced [[Pallacanestro Cantù|Clear Cantù]].

He had a stellar season for Trieste in 1993–94, this time leading his team deeper into the playoffs. In the semifinals game 3 against [[Scavolini Pesaro]], [[Carlton Myers]]' buzzer beater clinched a 2–1 series victory for Pesaro. Trieste also reached the [[FIBA Korać Cup]] final, where they surrendered to [[P.A.O.K. B.C.|PAOK]] from Thessaloniki, who starred [[Zoran Savić]], [[Walter Berry (basketball)|Walter Berry]] and [[Branislav Prelević|Bane Prelević]]. After that season, Stefanel changed its backing to [[Olimpia Milano]], sparking an exodus of Trieste players and coaches to [[Lombardy]] (coach Tanjević, Bodiroga, [[Gregor Fučka]], Alessandro De Pol, Davide Cantarello, and [[Ferdinando Gentile]]).

Bodiroga's leading role remained unchanged as he developed into an all-around player. In 1994–95, Olimpia reached the [[Korać Cup]] final, with players that also reached it the previous year in Trieste. However, they lost to [[Alba Berlin]], coached by [[Svetislav Pešić]], who would later play a big role in Bodiroga's career. On the home front, the team made it to the playoff semi-finals but lost 3–2 to the eventual champions, [[Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna|Buckler Bologna]], led by another Serbian superstar, [[Predrag Danilović]]. The two Serbs turned the series into a personal duel, with Danilović's experience prevailing in the end.

The summer of 1995 was an important milestone for Bodiroga. He became part of the great [[FR Yugoslavia national basketball team|FR Yugoslavia]] squad that was making its comeback after years of international exile. The team was loaded with stars like [[Aleksandar Đorđević]], [[Vlade Divac]], [[Žarko Paspalj]], Danilović and Savić. Together, they won the gold in one of the most spectacular finals in [[EuroBasket]] history against a [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuania]] that featured the likes of [[Arvydas Sabonis]], [[Šarūnas Marčiulionis]], [[Rimas Kurtinaitis]], and [[Artūras Karnišovas]].

That same summer, Bodiroga was drafted by the [[Sacramento Kings]] in the [[1995 NBA draft]] (second round, #51 overall). One year later, the Kings selected his younger countryman [[Peja Stojaković]]. However, unlike Stojaković, Bodiroga declined the offer to play in the NBA, choosing instead to remain in Europe. In 1995–96, Bodiroga won his first trophy in Milan, but the Korać Cup was again lost, this time to [[Anadolu Efes S.K.|Efes Pilsen]].

In the league, Bodiroga led the way with 23.3 points per game in 32 regular season matches. During the playoffs, they beat Virtus 3–1 in the semi-finals (Danilovic left for the [[Miami Heat]] in the summer), and [[Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna|Teamsystem Bologna]] led by Myers, Đorđević and [[Alessandro Frosini]]. He took his place in the [[FR Yugoslavia national basketball team|FR Yugoslav]] national team for the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Olympics]] in Atlanta and he brought home a silver medal, with [[1996 United States men's Olympic basketball team|Dream Team III]] winning the gold.

===Real Madrid (1996–1998)===
For the 1996–97 season, Bodiroga joined [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]] after an offer of $1 million per season, and teaming up with coach [[Željko Obradović]], whom he knew well from his national team stints. The squad also featured veteran [[Joe Arlauckas]] as well as established internationals [[Alberto Herreros]] and [[Mikhail Alexandrovich Mikhaylov|Mikhail Mikhaylov]]. In the [[Liga ACB|Spanish ACB League]] finals, they faced an [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|FC Barcelona]] team that boasted Aleksandar Đorđević, [[Jerrod Mustaf]], and Artūras Karnišovas. FC Barcelona prevailed 3–2, winning the deciding 5th game 82–69 away, as Madrid settled with the [[FIBA Saporta Cup|European Cup]] trophy.

On the national basketball front, Yugoslavia rolled over the competition with considerable ease ''en route'' to another EuroBasket gold in [[1997 EuroBasket|1997]], with Bodiroga again playing an integral role. In the group stages, the Serbs faced [[Croatia national basketball team|Croatia]], in the first meeting in basketball between the two nations since the breakup of the old Yugoslavia. The game carried much political tension and was low-scoring, with Đorđević winning it for FR Yugoslavia (by then comprising only Serbia and Montenegro) with a dramatic 3-pointer at the end.

In Bodiroga's next and final season with Real Madrid, (and without Obradovic, who had moved to [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]]) there were no improvements, as the team was ousted in the league's semifinals by [[Bàsquet Manresa|TDK Manresa]]. He did achieve [[ACB Most Valuable Player Award|league MVP honours]] for the 1997–98 season. That summer's national team duty was happier, as it brought another [[FIBA World Championship|World Championship]] title for FR Yugoslavia, the first for Bodiroga. Now 25, Bodiroga was, together with Đorđević (who suffered knee problems and played few minutes) and [[Željko Rebrača]], one of the team leaders.

===Panathinaikos (1998–2002)===
The same summer of 1998 also saw Bodiroga move to the Greek powerhouse [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]], where club chairman [[Pavlos Giannakopoulos]] began assembling a team to conquer Europe. As such, Bodiroga was the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle that already included [[Dino Rađa]], [[Fragiskos Alvertis]], [[Michael Koch (basketball)|Michael Koch]], [[Ferdinando Gentile|"Nando" Gentile]], [[Pat Burke]] and coach [[Slobodan Subotić]].

The ''Greens'' won the [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]], but the [[1998–99 FIBA EuroLeague|EuroLeague]] ended in a disappointing note, leading to the departures of Radja and Subotić, with the latter's replacement being old acquaintance [[Željko Obradović]], who brought along [[Željko Rebrača]] from [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]], [[Johnny Rogers]] from [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] and [[Oded Kattash]] from [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]]. After such an investment, Panathinaikos captured both the 1999–00 Greek League and the [[1999–2000 FIBA EuroLeague|EuroLeague]] trophies, the latter coming in a final versus [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]]. In 2001, Panathinaikos again won the Greek Championship and also reached the [[2000–01 FIBA SuproLeague|SuproLeague]] final in Paris. A year later, Bodiroga was named the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]], as the Greeks beat hosts [[Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna|Kinder Bologna]], and their star player [[Manu Ginóbili]] 89–83.

In the international front, Bodiroga, as the team's undisputed leader, helped FR Yugoslavia win the [[EuroBasket 2001]] in Turkey and the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]] in [[Indianapolis]]. In this competition, the national side defeated [[United States national basketball team|Team USA]] in the quarterfinals and the [[Argentina national basketball team|Argentine national team]] in the final, in [[overtime (sport)|overtime]].

===Barcelona (2002–2005)===
In the summer of 2002, Bodiroga returned to the Spanish league's FC Barcelona, which was managed by [[Svetislav Pešić]] and had players like [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius]], [[Gregor Fučka]] and [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]]. He won the [[2002–03 Euroleague|EuroLeague]] with ''Barça'' (the first time the team achieved this), and also added two domestic league titles with them.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

===Virtus Roma (2005–2007)===
In the 2005–06 season, Bodiroga came back to the Italian League, this time with [[Lottomatica Roma]], re-joining coach Pešić, as the team played in the [[EuroCup Basketball|ULEB Cup]] (now called EuroCup). After getting eliminated from European contention in the round of 16 and losing the Italian Cup final (83–85) to [[SS Basket Napoli|Carpisa Napoli]], Virtus finished the season in 6th place with a 22–12 record in the national league. Bodiroga finished the year with a 15.7 points-per-game regular season scoring average.

The playoff first round pitted Roma against favorites [[Mens Sana Basket|Montepaschi Siena]]. After dropping the first game, Bodiroga dominated the series in a 3–1 victory. During the 2006–07 season's playoffs, however, both teams played again, with the exact opposite outcome. After the fourth and final game, Bodiroga announced his retirement from professional basketball in June 2007.<ref name="retirement">{{cite news|title=Euroleague icon Dejan Bodiroga ends a magic career|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/13588/euroleague-icon-dejan-bodiroga-ends-a-magic-career|access-date=18 May 2018|work=euroleague.net|date=11 June 2007}}</ref>

==National team career==
===Junior national team===
Bodiroga was a member of the SFR Yugoslav junior national teams. He played at the [[1990 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship]]. He also played at the [[1991 FIBA Under-19 World Championship|FIBA Under-19 World Cup]], where he was named the [[FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP|MVP of the tournament]].

===Senior national team===
Bodiroga made his debut for the senior [[Yugoslavia national basketball team|SFR Yugoslav national team]] in 1991, at the first round of the [[Basketball at the 1991 Mediterranean Games|1991 Mediterranean Games]] in [[Athens]].<ref name="official">{{official website|http://www.dejanbodiroga.com}} {{in lang|en|sr|es|sl}}; accessed 21 October 2016.</ref> He was also a regular member of the senior [[FR Yugoslavian national basketball team|FR Yugoslavia national team]], throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, participating in a total of three [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] ([[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996]], [[Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000]], [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oks.org.rs/lus11e.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805232034/http://www.oks.org.rs/lus11e.htm|title=BASKETBALL|archivedate=August 5, 2009|website=www.oks.org.rs}}</ref>) two [[FIBA World Cup]]s ([[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998]] and [[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002]]) and five [[EuroBasket]]s ([[EuroBasket 1995|1995]], [[EuroBasket 1997|1997]], [[EuroBasket 1999|1999]], [[EuroBasket 2001|2001]], and [[EuroBasket 2005|2005]]).

Bodiroga retired from the national team after the [[EuroBasket 2005]] fiasco,<ref>[http://www.noticias.info/archivo/2006/200602/20060225/20060225_149634.shtm FIBA: ITA - Late Bodiroga baskets push Lottomatica Roma past Varese], Noticias.info; accessed 21 October 2016.</ref> in which his team, one of the tournament's favorites, was eliminated as early as the first elimination round, by the [[France national basketball team|French national team]], on their own home court, in a tournament that ended with a verbal tirade by [[head coach]] [[Željko Obradović]], at the team's final press conference. At which, the coach revealed there had been numerous fights between many of the team's players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-4-54/Serbia-and-Montenegro-Coach-Resigns-After-Fracas.html |title=Serbia and Montenegro Coach Resigns After Fracas - TrueHoop by Henry Abbott - ESPN |access-date=2009-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627031104/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-4-54/Serbia-and-Montenegro-Coach-Resigns-After-Fracas.html |archive-date=2009-06-27 }}</ref>

He won the following medals: EuroBasket 1995 (gold), 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games (silver), EuroBasket 1997 (gold), 1998 FIBA World Championship (gold), EuroBasket 1999 (bronze), EuroBasket 2001 (gold), 2002 FIBA World Championship (gold).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/wbc_championship_020908.html |title=Bodiroga Rallies Yugoslavia Past Argentina for Title|date=September 8, 2002 |work=NBA.com |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> He was selected to the [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team]]s in 1997 and 1999. He was also selected the [[FIBA World Cup MVP]] in 1998.

==EuroLeague career statistics==
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes seasons in which Bodiroga's team won the [[EuroLeague champion|EuroLeague]]
|}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1997–98 FIBA EuroLeague|1997–98]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
| 16 || N/A || 31.3 || .600 || .313 || .770 || '''5.8''' || 2.3 || .4 || .0 || 15.8 || N/A
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1998–99 FIBA EuroLeague|1998–99]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=4| [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| 17 || N/A || '''36.1''' || '''.624''' || '''.526''' || .760 || 4.6 || '''3.6''' || 1.2 || .0 || '''20.2''' || N/A
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA"| [[1999–2000 FIBA EuroLeague|1999–00]]†
| 22 || N/A || 34.6 || .587 || .375 || .741 || 4.9 || 3.4 || .8 || .0 || 17.2 || N/A
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 FIBA SuproLeague|2000–01]]
| '''24''' || N/A || 30.4 || .575 || .381 || .780 || 4.7 || 2.9 || 1.0 || .0 || 17.8 || N/A
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| [[2001–02 Euroleague|2001–02]]†
| 22 || 17 || 32.3 || .590 || .390 || .796 || 5.2 || 1.9 || 1.0 || .0 || 20.0 || '''23.1'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| [[2002–03 Euroleague|2002–03]]†
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3| [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|Barcelona]]
| 22 || '''20''' || 31.5 || .554 || .417 || .810 || 3.8 || 2.4 || .8 || .0 || 16.1 || 18.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003–04 Euroleague|2003–04]]
| 17 || 17 || 32.3 || .544 || .313 || .785 || 4.5 || 2.4 || 1.0 || '''.1''' || 14.8 || 17.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004–05 Euroleague|2004–05]]
| 20 || 18 || 30.6 || .532 || .308 || '''.813''' || 4.8 || 1.1 || .5 || '''.1''' || 15.1 || 16.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006–07 Euroleague|2006–07]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pallacanestro Virtus Roma|Lottomatica]]
| 19 || 17 || 29.1 || .496 || .415 || .727 || 4.1 || 2.5 || '''1.4''' || '''.1''' || 13.6 || 14.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 179 || N/A || 32.2 || .567 || .387 || .778 || 4.7 || 2.5 || .9 || .0 || 16.8 || N/A
{{S-end}}

==Titles==
===Club===
* 1995–96: [[Olimpia Milano]] – [[Lega Basket Serie A|Italian League]], [[Italian Basketball Cup|Italian Cup]]
* 1996–97: [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]] – [[FIBA Saporta Cup|FIBA EuroCup]] (FIBA Saporta Cup)
* 1998–99: [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] – [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]]
* 1999–00: Panathinaikos – [[EuroLeague]], Greek League
* 2000–01: Panathinaikos – Greek League
* 2001–02: Panathinaikos – EuroLeague
* 2002–03: [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|FC Barcelona]] – [[Liga ACB|Spanish League]], EuroLeague, [[Spanish Basketball Cup|Spanish Cup]]
* 2003–04: FC Barcelona – Spanish League, [[Spanish Basketball Super Cup|Spanish Supercup]]

===Serbian senior national team===
* [[EuroBasket]]: 3 [[Gold medal]]s – [[EuroBasket 1995|1995]], [[EuroBasket 1997|1997]], [[EuroBasket 2001|2001]]
* [[EuroBasket]]: 1 [[Bronze medal]] – [[EuroBasket 1999|1999]]
* [[FIBA World Cup]]: 2 [[Gold medal]]s – [[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998]], [[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002]]
* [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympic Games]]: 1 [[Silver medal]] – [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996]]

==Individual honours and awards==
===Junior national team===
* [[1991 FIBA Under-19 World Championship|1991 FIBA Under-19 World Cup]]: [[FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player|MVP]]

===Senior national team===
* [[1997 EuroBasket]]: [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament Team]]
* [[1998 FIBA World Championship]]: [[FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament Team]]
* [[1998 FIBA World Championship]]: [[FIBA World Cup MVP|MVP]]
* 2× [[Golden Badge|Yugoslavian Athlete of the Year]]: 1998, 2002
* 2× [[Yugoslav Olympic Committee]] Sportsman of the Year: 1998, 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oks.org.rs/?page_id%3D462%26lang%3Dsr-latn |title=Trofej OKS – Najuspešniji sportisti &#124; Olimpijski komitet Srbije |access-date=August 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820135109/http://www.oks.org.rs/?page_id=462&lang=sr-latn |archive-date=August 20, 2010 }}</ref>
* [[1999 EuroBasket]]: All-Tournament Team

===Pro clubs===
* 2× [[Lega Basket All Star Game|Italian League All-Star]]: 1993, 1994
* 2× [[ULEB All-Star Game|ULEB All-Star]]: 1993, 1994
* 3× [[Liga ACB Stars Match|Spanish League All-Star]]: 1996, 1997, 2003
* 4× [[FIBA EuroStar]]: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007
* [[ACB Most Valuable Player Award|Spanish League MVP]]: 1997–98
* 3× [[HEBA Greek All-Star Game|Greek League All-Star]]: 1998, 1999, 2002
* [[HEBA Greek All-Star Game|Greek All-Star Game]] MVP: 1999
* [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]]: 1998–99
* 2× [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|Greek League Finals MVP]] (1998–99, 1999–00)
* 2× [[EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer]]: [[2001 FIBA SuproLeague Final Four|2001]], [[2003 EuroLeague Final Four|2003]]
* [[EuroLeague Regular Season and Top 16 MVP|EuroLeague Top 16 MVP]]: [[2001–02 Euroleague|2001–02]]
* 2× [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]]: [[2002 Euroleague Final Four|2001–02]], and [[2003 Euroleague Final Four|2002–03]]
* 3× [[All-EuroLeague]] 1st Team choice: [[2001–02 Euroleague|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Euroleague|2002–03]], and [[2003–04 Euroleague|2003–04]]
* [[Eurobasket.com All-Europe Player of the Year|All-Europe Player of the Year]]: 2002
* [[Spanish Basketball King's Cup|Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey)]] MVP: 2003
* [[Spanish Basketball Supercup|Spanish Supercup]] MVP: 2004
* [[ACB Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Spanish League Finals MVP]]: 2004
* [[All-Liga ACB Team|All-Spanish League Team]]: (2004)
* [[FIBA All-Time EuroStars Team]]: 2007
* [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]]: 2008
* [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team]]: 2010
* [[EuroLeague 2000–2010 Player of the Decade]]: 2010
* 101 Greats of European Basketball: 2018
* HoopsHype's 75 Greatest International Players Ever: 2021<ref name="auto"/>
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame|Greek League Hall of Fame]]: 2022

==Executive career==
After retiring from playing professional basketball in June 2007, Bodiroga became the [[general manager (basketball)|general manager]] of the Italian club [[Pallacanestro Virtus Roma|Virtus Roma]], thus continuing at the club where he finished his playing career. He ended his general manager term in June 2009.

In April 2010, Bodiroga along with fellow former player [[Željko Rebrača]] sued the [[Carmel, Indiana]]-based company Worldwide Associates LLC for investment fraud. They allege in their suit they each gave the company more than $4 million to manage, which the company used as venture capital in speculative startup companies instead of investing it in traditional securities.<ref>[http://www.ibj.com/article?articleId=19376 "Former basketball players accuse firm of investment fraud"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713001745/http://www.ibj.com/article?articleId=19376 |date=2011-07-13 }}; ''Indianapolis Business Journal'', 16 April 2010.</ref>

From 2011 to 2015, he served as the [[Vice president#In business|Vice President]] of the [[Basketball Federation of Serbia]] (KSS).<ref>{{cite news|last1=O.|first1=B.|title=Bodiroga objavio imena selektora|url=https://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/domaca-kosarka-i-aba/bodiroga-objavio-imena-selektora/8x8e4pz|access-date=18 May 2018|work=blic.rs|date=25 May 2011|language=sr}}</ref> In June 2014, he was appointed as the President of the Competition Commission of [[FIBA Europe]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bodiroga predsednik komisije za takmičenje FIBA Evropa|url=https://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/evropska-kosarka/bodiroga-predsednik-komisije-za-takmicenje-fiba-evropa/cmdxkdf|access-date=18 May 2018|work=blic.rs|agency=Beta|date=17 June 2014|language=sr}}</ref> In February 2015, Bodiroga left the Basketball Federation of Serbia, in order to focus more on his job with FIBA Europe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Đilas menja: Rakočević ulazi, Bodiroga izlazi!|url=https://mondo.rs/a769843/Sport/Kosarka/KSS-Rakocevic-potpredsednik-Bodiroga-ide-u-FIBA.html|access-date=18 May 2018|work=mondo.rs|date=12 February 2015|language=sr}}</ref>

In May 2022, Bodiroga was announced as one of the candidates to be the successor of [[Jordi Bertomeu]], to take over the role of [[President (corporate title)|President]] of [[EuroLeague Basketball]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bertomeu odlazi sa čela Evrolige, Bodiroga naslednik? |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=05&dd=26&nav_id=2161107 |website=b92.net | date=26 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GOTOVO: Španci nadglasani - Đordi Bertomeu je bivši posle 22 godine! Nejasna sudbina evropske košarke |url=https://mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/gotovo-spanci-nadglasani-ordi-bertomeu-je-bivsi-posle-22-godine-nejasna-sudbina-evropske-kosarke/421050 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> On 14 September 2022, Bodiroga was officially named EuroLeague Basketball's new President.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto3"/>

==Personal life==
The son of Vaso and Milka Bodiroga, Dejan is a devout [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox]] Christian.<ref name="official"/> His father hails from the village of [[Bodiroge]] near [[Trebinje]] and was among the wave of migrants from [[Herzegovina]] that moved northwards following the devastations of World War II. On 13 July 2003 Bodiroga married his long-time fiancée Ivana Medić; the couple's first child was born in 2004.

Bodiroga is a relative of Croatian basketball players [[Dražen Petrović]] and [[Aleksandar Petrović (basketball, born February 1959)|Aleksandar Petrović]]. Bodiroga's paternal grandmother and their paternal grandfather were brother and sister, making Bodiroga and the Petrović brothers second cousins.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Bodiroga |first=Dejan |interviewer=Aleksandar Gajšek|title=An Interview with Dejan Bodiroga |work=Agape|publisher=Studio B|location=Belgrade |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQtJCwenvgI&t=15m45s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/MQtJCwenvgI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=May 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/evo-dokaza-drazen-petrovic-i-bodiroga-su-bliski-rodaci-20130809 |title=Evo dokaza: Dražen Petrović i Bodiroga su bliski rođaci! |last=A. |first=L. |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=3 September 2017 |language=hr |trans-title=Here's a Proof: Dražen Petrović and Bodiroga Are Close Relatives}}</ref> Although he never played for the club, Bodiroga is a declared fan of [[KK Partizan|Partizan]] and is often seen at their games. Bodiroga is one of the founding members of the Group Seven Children's Foundation.

Bodiroga is one of a small number of players that have won the [[EuroLeague]] championship with clubs from two different countries, and he is also one of the few players to win each of the top three most important European national domestic leagues historically, the [[Lega Basket Serie A|Italian League]], the [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]], and the [[Liga ACB|Spanish League]]. During his playing career, Bodiroga had several nicknames – Bodi Bond, "White [[Magic Johnson|Magic]]", Mr. MVP, and God.<ref>[https://www.interbasket.net/players/bodiroga.htm Interbasket Profile], Interbasket.net; accessed 21 October 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bo/dejan-bodiroga-1.html Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106085002/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bo/dejan-bodiroga-1.html |date=2009-01-06 }}, Sports-reference.com; accessed 21 October 2016.</ref>

In Serbia, he is admired for his unassuming and quiet way of going about matters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/default.asp?QS%3Dcid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.teamID_92330.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.playerID_8684 |title=EuroBasket 2005 |access-date=2007-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009190941/http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/default.asp?QS=cid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.teamID_92330.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.playerID_8684 |archive-date=2007-10-09 }}</ref> Bodiroga is also highly regarded by fans of the Greek club [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]], due to the high level of passion that he displayed in the games he played in against the club's [[Derby of the eternal enemies (basketball)|arch-rivals]], [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]].

== See also ==
* [[Sacramento Kings draft history]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dejan Bodiroga}}
* {{FIBA profile|new_id=108292-dejan-bodiroga|old_id=8684}}
* {{Olympics.com|dejan-bodiroga}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180320105836/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AYG Dejan Bodiroga] at acb.com {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.playerID_8684.teamID_92330.html Dejan Bodiroga] at fibaeurope.com
* [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dejan-bodiroga/apn/ Dejan Bodiroga] at euroleague.net
* [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/34334/history-principal-2 50 Greatest Euroleague Players - Bodiroga]

{{navboxes
|list=
{{s-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice president of the [[Basketball Federation of Serbia]]<br><small>for men's basketball</small>
|years=2011–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Igor Rakočević]]}}
{{succession box
| before= [[Predrag Danilović]]
| after= [[Igor Rakočević]]
| title= [[Serbia national basketball team|Serbia and Montenegro]] captain
| years= 2001 – 2005
}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box |
  | before = [[Predrag Mijatović]]<br/>[[Aleksandar Šoštar]]
  | after = [[Vladimir Grbić]]<br/>[[Vladimir Vujasinović]]<br/><small>(for {{SCG}})</small>
  | title = {{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}} [[Golden Badge|The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia]]
  | years = 1998<br/>2002
|}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Vladimir Grbić]]<br><small>(for {{FR-YUG}})</small>
| title = [[List of flag bearers for Serbia and Montenegro at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for <br>{{SCG}}
| years = [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004]]
| after = [[Jasna Šekarić]]<br><small>(for {{SRB}})</small>
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Navboxes
|title= National squads
|bg= blue
|fg= white
|bordercolor= red
|list1=
{{Yugoslavia Squad EuroBasket 1995}}
{{Footer 1996 Olympic Silver Medalists Basketball Men}}
{{Yugoslavia Squad EuroBasket 1997}}
{{Yugoslavia Squad 1998 FIBA World Championship}}
{{Yugoslavia Squad EuroBasket 1999}}
{{Yugoslavia Squad EuroBasket 2001}}
{{Yugoslavia Squad 2002 FIBA World Championship}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Club squads
|bg= blue
|fg= white
|bordercolor= red
|list1=
{{Olimpia Milano 1995-96 Lega Basket Serie A Champions}}
{{Real Madrid Baloncesto 1996–97 FIBA EuroCup champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 1999–2000 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 2001–02 Euroleague champions}}
{{FC Barcelona Bàsquet 2002–03 Euroleague champions}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|list1 =
{{Awards of Olympic Committee of Serbia}}
{{FIBA World Championship MVP Award}}
{{FIBA Under-19 World Championship MVP}}
{{Euroleague Final Four MVP Award}}
{{Euroleague Regular Season and Top 16 MVP}}
{{Euroleague Finals Top Scorer}}
{{EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team}}
{{EuroLeague25}}
{{Euroleague50}}
{{ACB Finals MVP Award}}
{{ACB MVP Award}}
{{Copa del Rey MVP Award}}
{{Supercopa de España de Baloncesto MVP Award}}
{{Greek Basket League MVPs}}
{{Greek Basket League Finals MVPs}}
{{Greek Basket League Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{1995 NBA draft}}
{{Panathinaikos B.C.}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bodiroga, Dejan}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1998 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:2002 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Competitors at the 1991 Mediterranean Games]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona Bàsquet players]]
[[Category:FIBA EuroBasket–winning players]]
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[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Olympic medalists in basketball]]
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[[Category:Real Madrid Baloncesto players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Sava]]
[[Category:Sacramento Kings draft picks]]
[[Category:Serbian basketball executives and administrators]]
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[[Category:Serbian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Serbian people of Bosnia and Herzegovina descent]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Zrenjanin]]
[[Category:Yugoslav men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Greece]]
[[Category:21st-century Serbian sportsmen]]