Ep 19. Once Brothers

"Once Brothers" is the 19th episode of the first season of the acclaimed sports documentary series "30 for 30." The episode tells the story of Dražen Petrović and Vlade Divac, two basketball players from the former Yugoslavia who became close friends in the 1980s and played together on the Yugoslav national team.

Their careers took different paths after Yugoslavia's breakup, with Petrović becoming one of the NBA's brightest stars and Divac following him to the league a year later. However, their friendship was strained by the political tensions and war that tore their country apart. Petrović's tragic death in a car accident in 1993 shocked the basketball world and shattered Divac emotionally.

The episode uses extensive archive footage, including interviews with Petrović and Divac, as well as interviews with their families, coaches, and teammates, to explore the personal and political factors that shaped their relationship and its tragic ending. We see how their friendship blossomed through shared experiences on and off the court, as they helped Yugoslavia to gold medals in the 1989 European Championships and the 1990 World Championships, and played for Real Madrid in Spain.

We also see how the breakup of Yugoslavia made their friendship a casualty of war. Petrović became a symbol of Croatian nationalism, while Divac became a defender of Serbian interests. Their opposing views on politics and history put a strain on their friendship, even as they tried to maintain contact through letters and phone calls. The episode shows how the violent conflict in the Balkans affected their families, with Petrović's mother fleeing the war in Croatia, and Divac's father getting killed in a bombing in Serbia.

The most poignant moments in the episode come from Divac's reflections on his bond with Petrović and the regret he feels for not having reconciled with him before his death. Divac recalls how he missed Petrović's funeral due to his Serb heritage, which made him a target for Croatian fans, and how he wished he could have told him how much he meant to him before it was too late. The episode ends on a hopeful note, as Divac returns to Croatia in 2010 to honor Petrović's legacy and raise money for a youth basketball program in his name.

Overall, "Once Brothers" is a moving and insightful exploration of the intersection of sports, friendship, and politics. It shows how two players who shared a dream of winning on the court were torn apart by the nightmare of war. It also celebrates their achievements and the bond they once had, reminding us that sports can bring people together even in the midst of conflict and division.