CLUBS AND NATIONAL TEAMS
Real Madrid
Dražen became the member of the most influential Spanish basketball club on 8 October 1988. Up to that point he already achieved the status of the greatest European basketball star and by coming to Madrid he touched the sky. New chapter in his career begun. In less than ten months Dražen became by far the most popular basketball player and sportsperson in Spain. In Madrid he stayed one season and during that period he wore number 5 on his jersey. For Real Madrid he played 47 games, scored 1026 points – on average 28.3 per game. After only 45 days in Madrid, he won King's Cup (Copa del Rey) against Real's biggest rival Barcelona. Dražen was voted as the best player of the final game.
Barcelona revanched in the Spain's Championship finale. Many will say that in the deciding fifth game Real, who was dominating the game until 33 minute, was wronged, because all starting five players were sent to the bench with personal fouls. Without them Real was doomed. Although he did not win the Spanish championship, Dražen could find some satisfaction in the fact he was the competition's top scorer with 1026 points. In Real's jersey Dražen also played at the second edition of the McDonald's Championship which was held in Madrid in 1988, and he shared the title od the best scorer od the tournament with legendary Larry Bird from Boston Celtics.
With Real Dražen participated in Cup Winners Cup and in the early 1989 he came to Zagreb to face his former team in the semifinals. Future Dražen's arena was full to the roof. Dražen said he would always remain grateful to Cibona's fans on how they welcomed him. Overpowering Real with Dražen back then, even with one point difference, would have been a great success. At the end of the game the score was 92:91 for Cibona when two free throws were awarded to Dražen. Everyone was begging him: “Miss those two, Dražen, these aren't important to you… we have bonuses, not for placement, but for the victory.” He looked at them, laughed and scored both. He just didn't know how to lose. In the return match in Madrid, Dražen scored 27 points in the first 17 minutes. If he wanted so, he could have scored 100 until the end of the game. Instead, he stopped, just assisted and added only two or three points until the final buzzer. That was probably the only game he didn't want to play with 100% all 40 minutes. There was no point, against his club, 50 points difference.
In the Cup Winner's Cup finale Real played in Athens against Snaidero from Caserta. Final score was 117:113. Dražen scored 62 points which is considered to be his official highscore.