Bosnia and Herzegovina legend Razija Mujanovic, a dominant force whenever she was on the court, is being honored with induction to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Mujanovic, who gained significant recognition for her international exploits, is among six former players being enshrined into the Hall of Fame, alongside Shaquille O’Neal (United States), Toni Kukoc (Croatia), Mickey Berkowitz (Israel), Pero Cameron (New Zealand) and Valdis Valters (Latvia). Joining them is coaching great Dusan Ivkovic (Serbia) and the Dream Team, arguably the greatest international team of all time. They were selected from a list of more than 150 candidates.
The 2.02m center is revered in her homeland having initially been a standout figure with Yugoslavia, before proudly leading Bosnia and Herzegovina at their first-ever EuroBasket Women Final Round appearance in 1997.
She also gained significant recognition for her success at club level in EuroLeague Women, while also breaking new ground by stepping out in the WNBA.
Mujanovic first rose to prominence when she appeared in the Final of EuroBasket Women 1987 and even more so as she then helped Yugoslavia to an Olympic silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Games.
A third Final appearance came at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1990 in Malaysia, when she confirmed her status as one of the top performers on the planet by averaging more than 23 points per game.
Her national team successes in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur had also come either side of one of her defining career highlights, after the Celic native was crowned EuroLeague Women champion for the first time. It was made particularly special since it came with the Bosnia and Herzegovina based club, KK Jedinstvo Tusla.
Mujanovic would stand on the top of the EuroLeague Women podium again in 1992 with CB Godella, prior to scooping consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995 with Societa Ginnastica.
Her silver medal haul with Yugoslavia was also extended with another Final appearance at EuroBasket Women 1991. Then, exactly two decades ago, she finally realized her dream of taking Bosnia and Herzegovina into a major tournament when she led them in their EuroBasket Women debut.
Two years later and Bosnia and Herzegovina made a return, only this time it was without Mujanovic, who was enhancing her already glittering resume with WNBA minutes at Detroit Shock.
She would return to play for her country again and eventually hung up her shoes in 2007, having cemented her place as the best female player to ever come out of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mujanovic also proved herself as one of the best players of her generation, as evidenced by the fact she was voted as European Player of the Year on three separate occasions.
