Jeff Reinking./NBAE/Getty RADMANOVIC’S STATISTICS SEASON CAREER 10.1 PPG 8.5 4.5 RPG 4.2 1.3 APG 1.3 0.92 SPG 0.89 0.31 BPG 0.35 26.5 MPG 23.6 .410 FG% .411

General Manager Rick Sund on Vladimir Radmanovic:
On last season: "I think Vlade, like all young players, has those up and down moments, but the ups are very good. The ups are maybe star-level. He looks like he has star potential, but he’s still young. On the down moments, we’ve got to have more consistency from him. We’ve got to have improvement in certain areas. He’s one of our better low-post defenders."

2002-03 Season:
Following his strong conclusion to the 2001-02 season and the trade of incumbent Vin Baker, the starting power forward position was assumed to be Vladimir Radmanovic’s to lose entering this October’s training camp. In fact, Radmanovic did nothing to lose it during training camp, but the coaching staff’s perception that he was more effective coming off the bench meant Radmanovic was a reserve on opening night – albeit a reserve who played more than starter Reggie Evans. Radmanovic returned to the starting five by the time the Sonics hit the road, playing well in posting back-to-back double-doubles against Orlando and Miami. However, the struggling Sonics bench forced Radmanovic back out of the starting five.

January was a trying month for Radmanovic. He suffered a pair of ankle injuries, one on each side, and played just eight of the team’s 13 games as a result. One was particularly ill-timed, coming in practice after Radmanovic had hit for a career-high 29 points on 9-for-15 shooting, and six of 11 from three-point range against the Memphis Grizzlies. He was unable to build on the momentum of that game, and by the time Radmanovic was healthy, Evans had asserted himself as the team’s starting power forward. Radmanovic would start just three more games the rest of the season.

Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

At the same time, Radmanovic got some help when the Sonics traded Desmond Mason as part of their five-player deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Mason’s departure freed up playing time at small forward, and Radmanovic backed up both forward positions down the stretch. Tendinitis in his right (shooting) elbow struck Radmanovic in late March, and its effects were obvious. Radmanovic shot just 39.7% from the field in March, 27.1% in April, dragging his season shooting percentage below his rookie mark. Through mid-March, he had been shooting 44.4% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range, excellent marks.

At his best ...
Radmanovic’s perimeter touch keyed a 95-83 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. After the Sonics trailed in the first half, Radmanovic came to life in the late second quarter and second half, finishing with a career-best 29 points, making nine of 15 shots, six of 11 threes, and five of seven free throws. Radmanovic added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Season Highs:
Points: 29 @ Memphis 1/25/03*
Rebounds: 11 @ Orlando 11/8/02*
Assists: 4 five times
Blocks: 2 vs. Phoenix 10/30/02, @ Miami 11/9/02, @ Minnesota 4/1/03
Steals: 3 vs. Sacramento 11/15/02

SUPERSONICS.COM Player of the Week:
Dec. 6-12

Interesting tidbit
Radmanovic was named to the 2001-02 All-Rookie second-team.