After Slovenia's win at the EuroBasket in Istanbul last Sunday, Planet TV reporters visited in Zagreb Biserka Petrović, the mother of one of the best European basketball players of all time, who died in a car crash 24 years ago.

Biserka handed them Dražen's number 3 shirt for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA, the last team he played for before ending his successful career prematurely, and told them to give it to Dragić, who wears the same number for the national team.

"She said that you had led Slovenia in such a leadership role that Dražen Petrović used to have", reporter Damjan Medica told Dragić on Tuesday as he handed him the memorabilia. The Slovenian star was deeply touched.

"I would like to thank her. This is really one of the best presents I have never received in my life. We all admired Dražen Petrović, he was my idol. It was an honour to wear number 3. I'm bowing to the legend of world basketball. May he rest in peace," Dragić said.

In return, Dragić sent his Slovenian national team jersey number 3 to Dražen's mother. "Your jersey will find a special place in Dražen's museum. You are his successor, you are continuing his work," Biserka said in response, with tears in her eyes.

Dragić added that "Dražen has made 3 a magical number. I always wanted to wear a jersey with number 3. I have had it in the national team, I was wearing it in Houston, now I can't in Miami because it was retired for Dwyane Wade."

"Dražen was a winner, different from others and a role model to all, regardless of nationality, religion, skin colour ... We know what a basketball god we are talking about. His career speaks that he was the best European player."