Just like Sabonis, Petrović's three years with the Trail Blazers were not in vain.
Three championships – they weren't won by clapping from the bench but by making significant contributions.
Petrović transformed from the weak, slightly hunched-over, defensively poor, fragile European white point guard in 1990 into today's super sixth man capable of handling things on his own.
He's become sturdier, with much stronger thighs, and his slightly hunched posture has straightened out, perhaps even too straight, making him look a bit stiff while dribbling.
Now he's undeniably the core player of Croatia, and the only one on their side who can face off against the Dream Team without making the match look too bad.
Facing Jordan's tough one-on-one defense, Petrović can dribble with ease, hold the ball and break through normally, tangle with Jordan near the three-point line, while Jordan cannot afford to be careless at all, as any laxity or mistake would give Petrović an opportunity.
