Krešimir Ćosić | Origin of Street Names

Krešimir Ćosić was a Croatian and Yugoslav basketball player, and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of European basketball. 

He was born in Zadar, into a basketball family where both his father and brother were involved in this sport. After completing secondary school, he enrolled at the University of Zadar, where he studied physics and mathematics, playing basketball for the university team.

Ćosić's basketball career began in the early 1960s when he joined the youth selection of Zadar. He quickly proved himself as a talented player, and in 1967, he moved up to the senior team. In his first season with the team, he helped Zadar win the championship in the highly competitive Yugoslav league. His impressive performances for the club also earned him a call-up to the national team.

He played a key role in Yugoslavia's success, including winning the FIBA World Championship in 1970 and the European Championship in 1973. He was also a member of the Yugoslav team that won the silver medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.

Krešimir Ćosić was known for his versatility on the basketball court. Standing at 211 cm tall, he had the height to play center, but he was also an excellent passer and shooter. His skill set was ahead of his time, and he is considered a pioneer of modern centers in today's game.

After a successful career in Yugoslavia, where he also played for Cibona, Ćosić went on to play in Italy before moving to the United States in 1973 to play college basketball for Brigham Young University. He became the first foreign player to receive a basketball scholarship in the United States. Ćosić's impact on BYU was immediate, helping the team reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. 

Ćosić's achievements on the basketball court were not limited to his playing career. He was also a successful coach, leading the Yugoslav national team to a gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. 

When Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Ćosić became a prominent figure in the new state. He was appointed as Croatia's ambassador to the United States and played a key role in promoting the country's image abroad.

He also coached the Croatian national team, which won the silver medal at the 1992 European Championship.

Krešimir Ćosić's life was tragically cut short in 1995 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He passed away on May 25th of the same year at the age of 46, but his legacy lives on and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest players of the game.

Symbolically, one street in Belgrade is named Krešimir Ćosić in his honor.