Radivoj Korać | Origin of Street Names

Radivoj Korać - Žućko (1938-1969) was one of the greatest Serbian and Yugoslavian basketball players of all time.

Born in Sombor, into a respected middle-class family, he was raised with values of humility, decency, and a strong emphasis on education. He grew up to be a versatile young man, equally interested and talented in natural sciences, painting, music, and literature. He regularly attended theaters and operas, familiarized himself with the artistic work of numerous painters and writers, and earned sincere admiration and respect from the great Ivo Andrić with his gentlemanly behavior and education.

It is little known that Radivoj Korać brought the first Beatles records to Belgrade from London, anticipating the global significance and extreme popularity that this group would have in the years to come.

However, his inclination and love for sports marked his life and made him one of the greatest basketball players in this region. He achieved his basketball affirmation with OKK Belgrade, with whom he became the champion of "old" Yugoslavia four times. He won numerous gold and silver medals with the national team. Although not known for flashy moves, he was a scoring "machine." The famous game of the European Champions Cup, in which he scored 99 points against Swedish champion Alvik from Stockholm while playing for OKK Belgrade, is legendary. He was just two points away from surpassing the world record of the famous Wilt Chamberlain, who had scored a "century" three years earlier in an NBA game.

Besides his exceptional basketball intelligence, Žućko was also recognizable for his authentic execution of free throws from the "well." While playing for the Belgian team Liège, he appeared as a star guest on a popular TV show. He was asked how many free throws he thought he would make out of 100 attempts. Modest Žućko replied between 70 and 80. Immediately, he was given the opportunity to prove it by shooting free throws in the TV studio, but he missed—he made all 100.

Beloved in every circle, he captivated others with his modesty and undisputed qualities, both as a person and as a basketball player.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, in a direct collision with a bus, he tragically lost his life at the age of 31. It happened in Sarajevo in 1969, after an informal exhibition game to which he had agreed, even coming from Padua, where he was playing at the time. He was the first athlete to be buried in the Alley of the Greats at the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

Considered greater than the country he represented, an Olympic flag was placed on his coffin instead of a national one. A monument that was erected at the site of his death during the war in Bosnia in the 90s was demolished, but at the initiative of the local residents, regardless of their religious and national affiliation, a new obelisk was built, which still commemorates the place of the great tragedy.

Today, the name of the famous Žućko is carried by numerous streets in the municipalities of Belgrade: Stari Grad, Vračar, Surčin, and Mladenovac. It is also present in Sombor, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš, Pančevo, Prokuplje, Ruma, and the village of Bobište near Leskovac.