Boban Jankovic
Encyclopedia
Slobodan "Boban" Janković (in Serbian: Слободан "Бобан" Јанковић) (December 15, 1963 in Lučani
, Serbia
, SFR Yugoslavia – June 29, 2006 in Rhodes
, Greece
) was a Serbia
n professional basketball
player.
At the age of 7, he moved to capital Belgrade
.
of the Serbian League
in 1980, still short of his 17th birthday. Over the next 11 seasons he grew into a dependable power forward
for the club. In 1991, he transferred to the Serbian League club KK Vojvodina
of Novi Sad
, but he stayed there for only one season.
club. During the 1992-93 season, the 30-year-old Janković enjoyed a good run of playing form and success with Panionios. Unfortunately, that came to a sudden, crashing halt on April 28, 1993, when Janković was nearly fatally injured during a Greek League playoff game between Panionios and Panathinaikos BC in Nea Smyrni
, Athens
, Greece on the home court of Panionios.
The injury occurred eight minutes before the end of a tense playoff match. Janković scored a basket on a drive to the hoop while being guarded by Panathinaikos player Fragiskos Alvertis
. However, the referee Koukoulekidis wiped out Janković's basket and instead called him for an offensive foul. It was Janković's 5th foul of the game, which meant that he had to leave the contest due to fouling out.
In reaction to what he believed was a bad call at a crucial moment of a very important playoff game, Janković slammed his head hard against the goal post. The head knock was quite strong and shockingly to all the game's spectators, it caused permanent paralysis
of Janković's body. The 29-year-old basketball player had permanently damaged his spinal cord
when he hit the goal post with his head and he was unable to walk for the rest of his life from that point on.
Being bound to a wheelchair for the final 13 years of his life, Janković gained weight, which exerted too much stress on his heart and he eventually died of heart failure at the age of 42, on the date of June 28, 2006, while he was on a holiday cruise on the Greek island of Rhodes
.
Lucani
Lučani is a town and municipality located in the Dragačevo region within the Moravica District of Serbia . The population of the town is 3,425, while population of the municipality was 20,855....
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, SFR Yugoslavia – June 29, 2006 in Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) was a Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
At the age of 7, he moved to capital Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
Pro career
Janković (also nicknamed Guza) joined his first professional club Red Star BelgradeKK Crvena zvezda
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name Crvena zvezda means Red Star and it's part of the Red Star Belgrade sports society ....
of the Serbian League
Naša Sinalko Liga
-Champions:* 2006–07 to present: Basketball League of Serbia-Championship winning teams:* Including titles in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia-Euroleague:-Eurocup:Ex. European Cup Winner's Cup, Saporta Cup...
in 1980, still short of his 17th birthday. Over the next 11 seasons he grew into a dependable power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
for the club. In 1991, he transferred to the Serbian League club KK Vojvodina
KK Vojvodina
KK Vojvodina Srbijagas is a professional basketball club from Novi Sad, Serbia. The club currently participates in the Basketball League of Serbia...
of Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
, but he stayed there for only one season.
Panionios tragedy
In 1992, the head coach of Panionios BC, Vlade Djurovic, Boban's mentor from his Red Star days, was instrumental in bringing him to the Greek LeagueA1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
club. During the 1992-93 season, the 30-year-old Janković enjoyed a good run of playing form and success with Panionios. Unfortunately, that came to a sudden, crashing halt on April 28, 1993, when Janković was nearly fatally injured during a Greek League playoff game between Panionios and Panathinaikos BC in Nea Smyrni
Nea Smyrni
Nea Smyrni is a southern suburb of Athens, Greece. Nea Smyrni is located about 5 km SW of downtown Athens, about 5 km SW of Kifissias Avenue, W of Vouliagmenis Avenue, about 6 km E of Piraeus, and NE of Poseidonos Avenue....
, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece on the home court of Panionios.
The injury occurred eight minutes before the end of a tense playoff match. Janković scored a basket on a drive to the hoop while being guarded by Panathinaikos player Fragiskos Alvertis
Fragiskos Alvertis
Fragiskos Alvertis is a retired Greek professional basketball player. He was the captain of the Panathinaikos basketball team...
. However, the referee Koukoulekidis wiped out Janković's basket and instead called him for an offensive foul. It was Janković's 5th foul of the game, which meant that he had to leave the contest due to fouling out.
In reaction to what he believed was a bad call at a crucial moment of a very important playoff game, Janković slammed his head hard against the goal post. The head knock was quite strong and shockingly to all the game's spectators, it caused permanent paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
of Janković's body. The 29-year-old basketball player had permanently damaged his spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
when he hit the goal post with his head and he was unable to walk for the rest of his life from that point on.
Being bound to a wheelchair for the final 13 years of his life, Janković gained weight, which exerted too much stress on his heart and he eventually died of heart failure at the age of 42, on the date of June 28, 2006, while he was on a holiday cruise on the Greek island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
.