Predrag Stojakovic Predrag Stojaković ] Position: Small forward Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) Weight: 229 lb (104 kg) Team: Indiana Pacers (NBA) Nationality: Serbia and Greece Born: June 9, 1977 Slavonska Požega, former Yugoslavia Died: College: None Drafted: 14th overall (Sacramento Kings) 1996 NBA Draft Pro career: 1998 - present Teams: Awards: Three-time All-Star Eurobasket 2001 MVP Predrag "Peđa" Stojaković (born June 9, 1977), usually referred to in English as Peja Stojakovic, Serbian as Предраг "Пеђа" Стојаковић, and Greek as Πρέντραγκ Στογιάκοβιτς is a basketball player for the NBA's Indiana Pacers. He is one of the league's top small forwards and a prolific scorer, especially from three-point range. Stojaković is one of the most recognizable international players in the NBA and is one of the most successful basketball players ever to come out of Serbia. Stojaković was born in Slavonska Požega, Yugoslavia, but his family fled Croatia during the Yugoslav wars to Belgrade, Serbia. In 1993, at age 16, he moved to Greece in order to be able to play professional basketball, and settled in PAOK Thessaloniki where he spent four seasons. Stojaković also acquired Greek citizenship in 1993.
The 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Stojaković was selected by the Kings in the first round (14th overall pick) of the 1996 NBA Draft while playing in Greece. He continued to play there until the Kings signed him prior to the 1998-99 season.
After two seasons on the bench in Sacramento, he had a breakthrough season in 2000-01, averaging 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and shooting .400 from three-point range in his first season as a starter. He finished second in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.
In 2001-02, he played in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time. His scoring average went up to 21.2 ppg, and he reached career highs in shooting percentage (.484) and three-point percentage (.416). His scoring average dropped slightly to 19.2 ppg in 2002-03, but he played again in the All-Star Game. In both seasons, he won the three-point shooting contest conducted during All-Star Weekend.
In 2003-04, Stojaković was again selected as an All-Star, and finished second in the league in scoring with a career-high 24.2 ppg. He also led the NBA in free-throw percentage (.927) and three-pointers made for the season (240). In 2004-05, he missed 16 games to injury, and was somewhat hampered in several games, but still averaged 20.1 ppg.
On January 25, 2006, Stojaković was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for forward Ron Artest, ending his 8 year tenure with the Kings.
As a member of the Serbia and Montenegro national team, he earned gold medals at the 2001 European Championships (Eurobasket), held in Turkey, and the 2002 FIBA World Championships, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Stojaković was the MVP of Eurobasket 2001, and was a member of the all-tournament team in Indianapolis, along with fellow NBA stars Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming, as well as New Zealand's Pero Cameron.
Stojaković is married to Greek fashion model Aleka Kamila. The couple have one son (Andre) and one daughter (Mila).
