Chapter 6: Socialist Basketball_4

For Raja, Auerbach was aware, the players from Yugoslavia were full of talent.

This guy was White, with exceptionally outstanding low-post offensive skills.

In the off-season of 1988, the Celtics visited Europe and played a round of the McDonald's Open against Spain, Yugoslavia, and Italy.

Yugoslavia faced the Celtics in the first round, losing decisively 85:113.

However, two players left a deep impression on the Celtics team.

One was Drazen Petrovic, whose sudden three-point stops made Dennis Johnson's defense look like paper.

The other was Raja, whose low-post footwork rivalled that of Kevin McHale.

Petrovic had already been selected by the Trail Blazers; the Celtics couldn't get him.

Thus, Raja entered the sight of the Celtics management—they wanted to pick someone who could replace McHale in the low post.

Auerbach originally thought that other teams were not familiar with the Yugoslavian players, so there was no need to worry about them being snatched away.