Franjo Arapović

Franjo Arapović
Member of Parliament
In office
22 December 2003 – 11 January 2008
Parliamentary groupCroatian Democratic Union
ConstituencyI electoral district
Personal details
Born (1965-06-02) 2 June 1965 (age 59)
Slipčići, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityCroatian
Height2.15 m (7 ft 1⁄2 in)
SpouseNataly-Suzan Plazibat
Children
Basketball career
Career information
NBA draft1987: 7th round, 159th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
PositionCenter
Career history
1983–1993Cibona
1993–1994Croatia Osiguranje
1994–1995Zrinjevac
1995–1996Trapani
1996–1998Žalgiris
1998–1999Antalya BB
1999–2000Olimpija Osijek
2000Hapoel Jerusalem
2000–2001Krka
2001–2002Triglav Osiguranje
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul Team
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Spain Team
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1987 Zagreb Team
European Championship for Juniors
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Sweden Team
Representing  Croatia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona Team

Franjo Arapović (born 2 June 1965) is a Croatian former professional basketball player who played as a center. A 7 ft 0.5 in (2.15 m) tall,[1] he won the silver medal with the Croatia national team at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Four years earlier he was a member of the Yugoslavia national team, that won the silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Arapović was born in Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia. In his professional career, he played for KK Lokomotiva Mostar, after which he moved to Croatian clubs Cibona, Croatia Osiguranje Split and Zrinjevac. He then moved to Pallacanestro Trapani in Italy, BC Žalgiris in Lithuania, Krka Telekom in Slovenia, Fenerbahçe in Turkey, Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem in Israel, again Žalgiris, and again Zrinjevac, Croatia Osiguranje Split and Cibona.[2]

One of Arapović's most well-known moments was during the first half of the gold medal game between Croatia and the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics, when Arapović caught a pass from Toni Kukoč while driving toward the basket and made a running two-handed slam dunk to give Croatia a 25–23 lead over the Dream Team. David Robinson was whistled for a foul on the play, and Arapović demonstratively hung on the rim for several moments before giving the cheering crowd several fist-pumps.[3]

Member of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Arapović was their MP in the Croatian Parliament from December 2003 until January 2008. His son Marko is also a professional basketball player.

References

  1. ^ "Franjo Arapovic". Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  2. ^ Franjo Arapović Archived 2014-05-05 at the Wayback Machine at the Croatian Olympic Committee
  3. ^ Gold Medal Game Footage, dunk at 7:35 1st half.