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The legacy of Drazen Petrovic will not be disrespected.
During a skit featured on ESPN, Elle Duncan managed to take a shot at the late NBA star when she flippantly said that he ‘didn’t leave his mark on the game’ like Carmelo Anthony did.
This might be the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen on ESPN.
She clearly doesn’t know anything about the legacy of Drazen Petrovic aka The Mozart Of Basketball. https://t.co/tGlaBgduIr
— David Astramskas (@redapples) December 19, 2018
This really pissed of NBA Twitter considering that Petrovic, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 28, is widely beloved and considered one of the most influential players of his generation.
https://twitter.com/1997JACI/status/1074774594031050752
Absoloutely ignorant saying Drazen didn't leave his mark on the game. It's the BASKETBALL Hall of Fame, not the NBA HoF. Drazen left his mark on the world and achieved incredible feats on the international stage before becoming an NBA All-Star. No wonder ESPN have so many issues.
— Sean Ioannidis (@seanioannidis) December 18, 2018
I really think Melo career gets disrespected nowadays, but not as much as the disrespect you showed to Drazen Petrovic with that video. Just recognize your mistake and hope people forget about it, because this doesn’t make you look good at all.
— DrunkenMasterII (@jui_kuen_2) December 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/Trvr28/status/1074819654575566849
This is poorly done. Ask any European player in the NBA (especially those who never saw Petrovic even play) and the impact he had on basketball in Europe. Players who were not even born have so much respect for him. Now go ask any current American player about Carmelo. Do better
— TM (@therealTM_1) December 18, 2018
It's sad to be a reporter, and you know so little about basketball. Petrović is the best Croatian player and European player of all time, and with his talent has opened the opportunity for other Europeans in NBA.
— Vanja Vinković (@VanjaVinkovic) December 18, 2018
Duncan tried to defender herself but only ended up pissing people off with her response.
Yeah I know Petrovic died. How is questioning him being a hall of famer disrespectful? Real question
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) December 17, 2018
Because anybody who knows anything about ball knows Petro absolutely deserves to be there, the implication by saying 'it didn't mean much' means u either don't think he deserves to be there, or that by him being there lessens the prestige, as if it's an honorary degree or smthn..
— PEEKZ (@peekz) December 18, 2018
Elle, I’ve enjoyed your presence on SportsCenter and thought this segment was mostly fun. You chose a terrible example, though. Petrovic built the bridge from Europe to the NBA, showed the value of 3-point shooting when it was a novelty and did all of that despite dying at 28.
— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) December 19, 2018