Former NBA star Predrag Stojaković fled threats at 14, now tends sheep and farms

Predrag Stojaković, a former NBA star who played for the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks, has traded the hardwood for a quieter life.

Born in Požega, Croatia, Stojaković recounted fleeing to Belgrade at age 14 due to threats during the Croatian War of Independence. He described his early years in Zemun as a period of adjustment, learning to navigate a new environment and school while pursuing his burgeoning basketball talent.

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I was 14 years old when we moved to Belgrade because of the war in Croatia, where we stayed for two years. Those were two transitional years for me. We lived in Zemun, where I visited all the school gyms playing basketball. Everything was unfamiliar to me, I was new, a kid from the province, I spoke differently.

After a distinguished career, including his renowned three-point prowess, Stojaković's post-basketball ventures have taken a different direction. He has ventured into the hospitality industry in Greece, establishing two restaurants. Additionally, he has invested in solar power plants.

Currently, Stojaković dedicates his leisure time to more pastoral pursuits. He is often seen driving a tractor, working the land, and tending to sheep in a rural village, a stark contrast to his high-profile NBA career.

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In school, they discovered my talent, and that's how it began.