The 1991 Yugoslav Basketball All-Star Game (also known as 1991 Yu All-Star) was a one-off basketball event in former Yugoslavia. It was held towards the end of the 1990-91 season, and it was the only basketball All-Star Game to take place in former Yugoslavia.

The 1992 edition was cancelled due to the Yugoslav Wars.

Events

The Game

The first Yu All-Star match was held in Bosnia, in Sarajevo's Skenderija Hall on Tuesday, on May 7, 1991. The event was organized by host club KK Bosna and Sarajevo-based Večernje novine daily newspaper as an exhibition showcase.

The organizers decided to time the game in accordance with the NBA rules: four quarters of twelve minutes each rather than the then FIBA customary two halves of twenty minutes each. The Red team were coached by Duško Vujošević and the White team by Željko Pavličević. Overall, the twenty-four best Yugoslav players played in a game that ended 125-114 for the White team.1991 All-Star Game - eurobasket.com

The topscorer of the game was Žarko Paspalj with 31 points for the Reds, while Aleksandar Đorđević had 24 for the Whites. Toni Kukoč scored 22, Zoran Savić 17 and Arijan Komazec 16. Top assister was Aleksandar Đorđević with 8 and top rebounders were Zoran Savić with 9 and Toni Kukoč with 8.

Rosters

+Team Crveni (Red)Number Player Team #4 Željko Obradović KK Partizan #5 Zdravko Radulović KK Cibona #6 Velimir Perasović Jugoplastika Split #7 Jure Zdovc Smelt Olimpija #8 Radisav Ćurčić Smelt Olimpija #9 Danko Cvjetićanin KK Cibona #10 Mario Primorac KK Bosna #11 Samir AvdićSamir Avdić (FW) - unicajabaloncesto.com KK Bosna #12 Andro Knego KK Cibona #13 Zoran Savić Jugoplastika Split #14 Žarko Paspalj KK Partizan #15 Ivica Marić Čelik Zenica Coach Duško Vujošević KK Partizan

+Team Bijeli (White)Number Player Team #4 Aleksandar Đorđević KK Partizan #5 Predrag Danilović KK Cibona #6 Zoran Sretenović Jugoplastika Split #7 Toni Kukoč Jugoplastika Split #8 Zoran Čutura KK Cibona #9 Sejo Bukva Sejo Bukva - proballers.com KK Bosna #10 Zoran Jovanović KK Crvena zvezda #11 Miroslav Pecarski KK Partizan #12 Saša Radunović Saša Radunović - proballers.com KK Budućnost Podgorica #13 Arijan Komazec KK Zadar #14 Zan Tabak Jugoplastika Split #15 Ivo Nakic KK Partizan Coach Željko Pavličević Jugoplastika Split

Three-point shootout Total of 19 players signed up for the shootout that consisted of 25 shots from five different positions in 60 seconds — five racks of five balls each — with each regular ball made worth one point and the last ball in each rack (moneyball) worth two points. In the preliminary qualification, the best five were chosen for the final that took place during the All-Star Game halftime.

The three-point shootout finalists were: Danko Cvjetićanin Velimir Perasović Arijan Komazec Miroljub Mitrović Miroljub Mitrović - fiba.basketball.com Željko Obradović

The final's first elimination stage was played in two rounds with each player's best score taken for classification. The two best scores posted were Komazec's and Cvjetićanin's — Komazec had 25 points in his second round while Cvjetićanin had 20 points in his first.

The two went head-to-head for the title in additional two rounds. In the first additional round, Danko Cvjetićanin had 19 points while Arijan Komazec had 14. In the second additional round, Danko Cvjetićanin posted 23 points while Arijan Komazec also had 23.

Arijan Komazec won due to the better first additional round. In addition to the trophy, he received a money prize of YUD 30,000.

Slum-dunk contest

Four players made the final: Toni Kukoč Miroslav Pecarski Samir Avdić Zoran Bacalja, 18-year-old KK Zadar junior player

Five judges for the dunk competition were: Žarko Varajić, Mirza Delibašić, Branko Macura, Nedjeljko "Mišo" Oštarčević, and Vinko Jelovac.

In the first round, Avdić's dunk earned 41 points, Kukoč's 48, Bacalja's 44, and Pecarski's 43 In the second round, Avdić had 46 points, Toni Kukoč 46, Zoran Bacalja 50 (behind the back dunk on the second try), and Miroslav Pecarski 45 In the third round, Avdić had 46 points, Kukoč 50 (one-handed dunk from the free-throw line), Bacalja 50 (behind the back dunk after a bounce), and Pecarski 46.

Toni Kukoč and Bacalja made the two-man final.

In the first round, Kukoč had 47 while Bacalja also had 47. In the second round, Kukoč had 50 (dunked with two balls) while Bacalja had 48. In the third round, Kukoč had 50 (another one-handed dunk from the free-throw line) while Bacalja had 47.

Overall Results Bold: Team that won the game. SeasonDateArenaCityTeamScoreTeamMVPTopscorer 1990-91 7 May 1991 Skenderija Hall Sarajevo, Bosnia Red Team114 -125White Team Toni Kukoc Žarko Paspalj

Three-point contest SeasonDateArenaCityWinnerTeamRunner-upTeam 1990-91 7 May 1991 Skenderija Hall Sarajevo, Bosnia Arijan Komazec KK Zadar Danko Cvjetićanin Cibona

Slam-dunk contest SeasonDateArenaCityWinnerTeamRunner-upTeam 1990-91 7 May 1991 Skenderija Hall Sarajevo, Bosnia Toni Kukoc Jugoplastika Split Zoran Bacalja Zadar

1992 edition

In the summer of 1991, the biggest names of Yugoslav basketball moved abroad, with Dino Radja, Toni Kukoc and Jure Zdovc moving to Italy despite having NBA offers. The ongoing Yugoslav Wars during the 1991-92 season and the withdrawal of the Croatian teams from the league meant that the second All-Star Game would not take place, while the Yugoslav Basketball Federation (KSJ) was dissolved.

Distinctions FIBA Hall of Fame Toni Kukoč

Basketball Hall of Fame

Toni Kukoč Dino Radja

FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991) Toni Kukoč Dino Radja

See also YUBA All-Star Game Adriatic Basketball Association All-Star Game

References

Sources 1991 Serbian All-Star Game on eurobasket.com