Ex-NBA Player Danilovic Stabbed, Fighting for Life

Serbian former basketball star Predrag Danilovic was fighting for his life on Saturday after being stabbed in a café in the capital, Belgrade, overnight.

Danilovic, 43, reportedly sustained "life threatening injuries," the head of Serbian police Milorad Veljovic said, according to B92 radio. Danilovic suffered injuries to his abdomen, head and hands.

An official of a Belgrade medical emergency center said the former Yugoslav national was hospitalized on Saturday. He underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition.

Police said Danilovic was hurt during a brawl in a cafe in a residential neighborhood.

The reason for the brawl was not yet known.

Danilovic was considered one of the best players in Europe in the 1990s. He was named European player of the year by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in 1994.

Danilovic was only 22 years old when he led Partizan Belgrade to its only Euroleague title in 1992, scoring 25 points in the title game against Joventut.

He played for NBA's Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks as a guard from 1995-97.  

Danilovic returned to Europe and helped Kinder Bologna win its first Euroleague trophy in 1998.

His career also featured four Italian League titles with Kinder, four European Championships trophies with Yugoslavia, and a Korac Cup and a Yugoslavian League crown with Partizan. He brought home a silver medal from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He was named one of the top 50 players in Europe by the Euroleague in 2008. In response to the recognition, Petrovic said: "I am pretty honored, very honored. I believe it's a wonderful thing.. Basketball changed a lot in recent years. I can't say it's another basketball. It's new, but it is always the same: you have to get a basket if you want to win," according to Euroleague.

Danilovic, who retired as a professional player in 2000, is currently Partizan Belgrade president.