Get to Know Predrag Savovic

Today, get to know….
Nuggets rookie guard Predrag Savovic

Although he is just a rookie, 6-6, 225-pound “Savo” is 26-years-old and the sixth oldest player on the team. A native of Yugoslavia, Savo played one year of college ball at UAB before transferring to Hawaii. In just three seasons with the Rainbow Warriors, he left as the school’s all-time leader in both three-pointers made and attempted. As a senior he was named Honorable Mention All-American, and became the first Hawaii player named First Team All-WAC in consecutive seasons. Although most teams expected him to be selected early in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft, he managed to slip through the cracks and signed with the Nuggets as an undrafted free agent. The Nuggets have been very pleased with what they’ve seen thus far, and are expecting big things from this sharp-shooting guard.

JG: “First, could you pronounce your name for everyone?
SAVOVIC: “PRAY-drog SAH-vo-vich.”
JG: “So it is pronounced PRAY-drog. I thought maybe it was actually pronounced PAY-jah since both you and Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings) are called that and spell your names the same.”
SAVOVIC: “Predrag is very common in Yugoslavia and Peja is just a nickname. Predrag is like the equivalent of Peter. Most people named Predrag are called Peja though by friends and family.”

JG: “I know that your bio says you are from Yugoslavia and that Yugoslavia just won the gold medal at the Basketball World Championships in Indianapolis. It was my understanding that after the fall of communism and the civil war there that “Yugoslavia” didn’t exist anymore. Aren’t they separate countries now?
SAVOVIC: “There is no more Yugoslavia. That is true. They are independent countries now, but Serbia and Montenegro are referred to as the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.”

JG: “What do you miss most about Yugoslavia?”
JG: “I miss the Yugoslavian food.”
JG: “What’s your favorite food?”
SAVOVIC: “Sarma. It’s stuffed cabbage.”

JG: “You’ve been in the U.S. for five years, what’s your favorite food here?”
SAVOVIC: “I like Italian and Indian food.”
JG: “Do you have any kind of pre-game meal?”
SAVOVIC: “I always eat chicken. I eat it any way but fried.”

JG: “Why did you select No. 4?”
SAVOVIC: “I didn’t, No. 4 picked me. No, actually Sparky (Gonzales, Nuggets equipment manager) picked it.”

JG: “How old were you when you first dunked?”
SAVOVIC: “13.”

JG: “Do you have any kind of gameday ritual or superstition?
SAVOVIC: “I sleep for two hours before every game.”

JG: “Who was the most influential person in your basketball career and why?”
SAVOVIC: “My coach at Hawaii, Riley Wallace. He is the one that directed me to this point (the NBA).”

JG: “What was your major at Hawaii and did you get your degree?”
SAVOVIC: “Yes, I earned degrees in finance, international business and what is the equivalent of economics.”

JG: “Do you have any post-basketball career plans yet?”
SAVOVIC: “I want to be a lawyer.”

JG: “Outside of basketball, what is the one thing that you have never been able to do, but always wanted to?”
SAVOVIC: “To go to the moon. It is just one of those things that so few people get to do. I just think it would be an unbelievable experience. ”

JG: “Do you have any hobbies?”
SAVOVIC: “I really like to read.”
JG: “What’s your favorite book?”
SAVOVIC: “Street Lawyer by John Grisham.”

JG: “What is your favorite movie of all-time?”
SAVOVIC: “12 Angry Men. The original, not the re-make.”
The original “12 Angry Men” starred Henry Fonda and was released in 1957 and was based on Reginald Rose’s well-known play.

JG: “Your favorite actor or actress?”
SAVOVIC: “Actor is Al Pacino, actress is Gwyneth Paltrow. Man, I would love to meet her.”

JG: “What’s your favorite TV show?”
SAVOVIC: “X-Files.”

JG: “Favorite musical artist?”
SAVOVIC: “The Gypsy Kings.”

JG: “What is your favorite video game?”
SAVOVIC: “Command and Conquer.”

JG: “Who is the one person throughout history that you’d most like to meet?”
SAVOVIC: “My mother’s father. He died early and I never got to know him. As far as famous people I’d have to Nikola Tesla (Serbian-American inventor and researcher).”
JG: “Why Tesla?”
SAVOVIC: “I think he was about the smartest man ever, and I would just like to talk with him.”

JG: “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
SAVOVIC: “I have one younger brother, Boban Savovic. He played basketball at Ohio State and played at the (1999) Final Four. He is playing professional basketball in Yugoslavia now.”

JG: “What is one interesting talent or skill that you have that not many people know or would guess about you?”
SAVOVIC: “I can play the piano.”

JG: “What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?”
SAVOVIC: “It’s just another day. I always remember a friend telling me that.”

JG: “What country would you most like to visit?”
SAVOVIC: “Nepal. I would like to see the Himalayas.”

JG: “What is the one thing that you can always count on to help you relax?”
SAVOVIC: “Just breathing exercises and visualization techniques.”

Be sure to check back each day during the preseason for another player on “Get to Know Your Nuggets.” You can e-mail your questions and comments to Jonathan Goldstein at NuggetsPR@hotmail.com.