KK Split

Split
Split
Nickname	Žuti (The Yellows)
Leagues	ABA League; Croatian League
Founded	1945; 79 years ago
History	KK Hajduk; (1945–1949); KK Split; (1949–1967); KK Jugoplastika; (1967–1990); KK POP 84; (1990–1991); KK Slobodna Dalmacija; (1991–1993); KK Croatia Osiguranje; (1993–1997); KK Split; (1997–present)
Arena	Arena Gripe
Capacity	3,500
Location	Split, Croatia
Team colors	Yellow and Black;
President	Ante Vuković
General manager	Dejan Žaja
Head coach	Slaven Rimac
Team captain	Shannon Shorter
Championships	3 EuroLeague; 2 Korać Cup; 3 Triple Crown; 1 Croatian Championship; 5 Croatian Cups; 6 Yugoslav Championships; 5 Yugoslav Cups
Website	www.kk-split.com
Home	Away

Košarkaški klub Split (English: Split Basketball Club), commonly referred to as KK Split or simply Split, is a men's professional basketball club based in Split, Croatia. The club competes in the ABA League and the Croatian League.

History

The club's roots are found in Hajduk sports society's basketball section, which was established in 1945. After three years of mostly sporadic activity, in 1948, the club established its own organizational structure known as KK Hajduk, which was independent of sports society. In the next year, 1949, the club changed its name to KK Split.

After competing in the Yugoslav lower divisions for more than a decade, the club finally made it to the Yugoslav top-tier level Yugoslav First Federal League, for the 1963–64 season, and it stayed there until the breakup of Yugoslavia.

In 1967, the club adopted–for sponsorship reasons–the name Jugoplastika (Jugoplastika was a factory of clothing, accessories, and footwear products, made from thermoplastic materials and fiberglass; the original predecessor of AD Plastik),^[1] and kept it until the end of the 1989–90 season. In the next season, the club participated in the worldwide, national domestic, and European competitions, under the sponsorship of POP 84 (an Italian clothes company from Ancona).^[2]

KK Split is among the most successful clubs in European basketball history. They are, together with the first champions of the competition, Rīgas ASK, the only team to win the EuroLeague trophy three times in a row. In the years 1989, 1990, and 1991, the team, which was known back then as Jugoplastika and POP 84, with players like Dino Rađa, Toni Kukoč, Žan Tabak, Velimir Perasović and Zoran Savić, won the European top-tier level basketball trophy.

Apart from these successes, the club also reached the FIBA European Champions Cup final in 1972, and the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1973. It lost both finals against the 1970s Italian League superpower Ignis Varese, and the Soviet Union League club Spartak Leningrad. KK Split also won back-to-back Korać Cup titles in 1976, against Chinamartini Torino, and in 1977, against Alco Bologna.

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

KK Split roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Age
SG	2	Shorter, Shannon	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	35 – (1989-08-01)1 August 1989
SG	5	Jordano, Antonio	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	25 – (1999-02-25)25 February 1999
G	6	Katić, Toni	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	32 – (1992-07-09)9 July 1992
F	7	Tišma, Boris	2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)	22 – (2002-02-20)20 February 2002
PG	9	Klepo, Antonio	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)	20 – (2004-04-12)12 April 2004
G	10	Kučić, Vito	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	22 – (2002-03-28)28 March 2002
PF	11	Vuko, Tonko	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	30 – (1994-07-07)7 July 1994
SF	13	Perkušić, Ante	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	22 – (2002-03-24)24 March 2002
C		Vraneš, Ivan	2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)	28 – (1996-05-29)29 May 1996
PF	24	Škara, David	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)	29 – (1995-02-26)26 February 1995
PG	44	Kapusta, Borna	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)	28 – (1996-07-24)24 July 1996
C	98	Ljubičić, Krešimir	2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)	26 – (1998-07-11)11 July 1998

Head coach

Slaven Rimac

Assistant coach(es)

Ante Marović

Legend

(C) Team captain
Injured

Roster

Updated: November 20, 2023

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2
C	Ivan Vraneš	Krešimir Ljubičić
PF	David Škara	Tonko Vuko
SF	Shannon Shorter	Boris Tišma	Ante Perkušić
SG	Antonio Jordano	Vito Kučić	Antonio Klepo
PG	Borna Kapusta	Toni Katić

FIBA Hall of Famers

KK Split Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Nat.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
7		Toni Kukoč	F	1985–1991	2017^[3]

Honours

Arena Gripe

Total titles: 24

Domestic competitions

Croatian League

Winners (1): 2002–03

Runners-up (8): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023-24

Croatian Cup

Winners (5): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97, 2003–04

Runners-up (3): 1995–96, 1998–99, 2020–21

Yugoslav League (defunct)

Winners (6): 1970–71, 1976–77, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91

Runners-up (6): 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80

Yugoslav Cup (defunct)

Winners (5): 1971–72, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1989–90, 1990–91

Runners-up (5): 1969–70, 1974–75, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89

Yugoslav League 1. B (defunct)

Winners (1): 1981–82

European competitions

EuroLeague

Winners (3): 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91

Runners-up (1): 1971–72

Final Four (3): 1989, 1990, 1991

FIBA Saporta Cup (defunct)

Runners-up (1): 1972–73

Semifinalists (1): 1974–75

FIBA Korać Cup (defunct)

Winners (2): 1975–76, 1976–77

Semifinalists (3): 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80

European Basketball Club Super Cup (semi-official, defunct)

Winners (1): 1990

Runners-up (2): 1988, 1989

4th place (1): 1991

Worldwide competitions

FIBA Intercontinental Cup

4th place (1): 1973

McDonald's Championship

Runners-up (2): 1989, 1990

4th place (1): 1991

Other competitions

FIBA International Christmas Tournament (defunct)

Winners (1): 1989

Runners-up (1): 1990

Individual club awards

Triple Crown

Winners (2): 1989–90, 1990–91

Small Triple Crown

Winners (1): 1976–77

Top performances in European competitions

Season	Achievement	Notes
EuroLeague
1971–72	Final	lost to Ignis Varese, 69-70 in the final (Tel Aviv)
1977–78	Semi-final group stage	5th place in a group with Real Madrid, Mobilgirgi Varese, ASVEL, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Alvik
1988–89	Champions	defeated FC Barcelona 87–77 in the semi-final, defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 75–69 in the final of the Final Four in Munich
1989–90	Champions	defeated Limoges CSP 101–83 in the semi-final, defeated FC Barcelona Banca Catalana 72–67 in the final of the Final Four in Zaragoza
1990–91	Champions	defeated Scavolini Pesaro 93–87 in the semi-final, defeated FC Barcelona Banca Catalana 70–65 in the final of the Final Four in Paris
2000–01	Quarter-finals	eliminated by Efes Pilsen, 69–95 (L) in Istanbul, 72–64 (W) in Split and 59–82 (L) in Istanbul
FIBA Saporta Cup
1972–73	Final	lost to Spartak Leningrad, 62–77 in the final (Thessaloniki)
1974–75	Semi-finals	eliminated by Crvena zvezda, 88–76 (W) in Split and 63-81 (L) in Belgrade
1985–86	Quarter-finals	3rd place in a group with FC Barcelona, Scavolini Pesaro and Landis&Gyr Wien
1992–93	Quarter-finals	3rd place in a group with Sato Aris, Hapoel Galil Elyon, Benfica, Pitch Cholet and Budivelnyk
1993–94	Quarter-finals	3rd place in a group with Smelt Olimpija, Taugrés, Fidefinanz Bellinzona, Tofaş and Rabotnički
1994–95	Quarter-finals	3rd place in a group with Olympique Antibes, Iraklis Aspis Pronoia, Maes Flandria, Kyiv and Fidefinanz Bellinzona
FIBA Korać Cup
1973–74	Semi-finals	eliminated by Partizan, 97–108 (L) in Belgrade and 85–75 (W) in Split
1975–76	Champions	defeated Chinamartini Torino, 97–84 (W) in Split and 82–82 (D) in Turin in the double finals of Korać Cup
1976–77	Champions	defeated Alco Bologna, 87–84 in the final of Korać Cup in Genoa
1978–79	Semi-finals	eliminated by Partizan, 96–97 (L) in Split and 96–98 (L) in Belgrade
1979–80	Semi-finals	eliminated by Arrigoni Rieti, 75–86 (L) in Rieti and 104–97 (W) in Split
FIBA Intercontinental Cup
1973	4th	4th place in a group with Ignis Varese, Sírio, Vaqueros de Bayamón and Lexington Marathon Oilers
McDonald's Championship
1989	Final	defeated Philips Milano 102–97 in the semi-final, lost to Denver Nuggets 129–139 in the final (Rome)
1990	Final	defeated FC Barcelona Banca Catalana 102–97 in the semi-final, lost to New York Knicks 101–117 in the final (Barcelona)
1991	4th	4th place in Paris, lost to Montigalà Joventut 86–117 in the semi-final, lost to Limoges CSP 91–105 in the 3rd place game

The road to the European Cup victories

1975–76 FIBA Korać Cup

Round	Team	Home	Away
2nd	Panellinios	105–61	63–78
Top 16	Standard Liège	78–71	87–83
	Berck	90–69	79–99
	Mobilquatro Milano	99–83	100–101
SF	Sinudyne Bologna	74–83	92–79
F	Chinamartini Torino	97–84	82–82

1976–77 FIBA Korać Cup

Round	Team	Home	Away
2nd	Bye (as title holder)
Top 12	Standard Liège	88–84	91–75
Top 12	Canon Venezia	102–88	95–66
SF	IBP Stella Azzurra	96–71	76–87
F	Alco Bologna	87–84

1988–89 FIBA European Champions Cup

Round	Team	Home	Away
Top 16	Ovarense	113–76	94–87
QF	Limoges CSP	87–78	93–95
	Scavolini Pesaro	88–65	75–88
	Nashua EBBC	86–79	88–83
	FC Barcelona	84–79	70–79
	Aris	94–83	85–96
	CSKA Moscow	89–77	77–91
	Maccabi Tel Aviv	85–86	90–102
SF	FC Barcelona	87–77
F	Maccabi Tel Aviv	75–69

1989–90 FIBA European Champions Cup

Round	Team	Home	Away
Top 16	MIM Livingston	122–65	97–84
QF	FC Barcelona Banca Catalana	86–73	73–79
	Philips Milano	95–89	84–73
	Limoges CSP	103–83	93–100
	Commodore Den Helder	105–78	83–76
	Maccabi Tel Aviv	79–61	93–87
	Aris	85–89	80–79
	Lech Poznań	98–74	120–73
SF	Limoges CSP	101–83
F	FC Barcelona Banca Catalana	72–67

1990–91 FIBA European Champions Cup

Round	Team	Home	Away
Top 16	Galatasaray	101–70	97–86
QF	Scavolini Pesaro	86–66	106–105
	Kingston Kings	91–72	89–87
	FC Barcelona Banca Catalana	87–91	85–92
	Aris	93–63	71–92
	Bayer 04 Leverkusen	85–84	103–87
	Maccabi Tel Aviv	70–72	65–103
	Limoges CSP	92–88	84–73
SF	Scavolini Pesaro	93–87
F	FC Barcelona Banca Catalana	70–65

One of the greatest dynasties in European-wide basketball club competition history, came between 1989 and 1991, when Split simply dominated the FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague) like no other team had in decades. Head coach Božidar Maljković, put together arguably one of the most talented young teams ever seen anywhere: featuring Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Žan Tabak, Velimir Perasović, Zoran Sretenović, and Luka Pavićević, who joined forces with veterans like Duško Ivanović. In 1989, Jugoplastika reached the Final Four, along with heavy favorites FC Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the very competitive Aris. Kukoč had 24 points and Ivanović had 21, to lead Split past FC Barcelona, by a score of 89–77, in the semifinals. Once in the final, Jugoplastika edged Maccabi 75–69, behind 20 points from Rađa, and 18 from an unstoppable Kukoč, whose combination of size, speed, and incredible court vision, turned him into a one-of-a-kind player.

Toni Kukoč with Dino Rađa, after the victorious 1990 Champions Cup final against FC Barcelona, in Zaragoza.

Jugoplastika met FC Barcelona again, in the 1990 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four, in Zaragoza, Spain. FC Barcelona was backed by thousands of fans, and managed to get a brief 61–59 lead, late in the second half, but Kukoč buried a couple of critical three-pointers, that sent Jugoplastika on its way to its second straight title. Kukoč finished the game with 20 points, and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP award, in his magic hands.

In most places, one can find that the European champions in 1991, were called POP 84, but that was just the name of the sponsor under which the talented players of KK Split were playing that season. Despite being without Dino Rađa and Duško Ivanović, the team from Split was led by a great Toni Kukoč, and a genius-like Zoran Savić, to their third consecutive title. Since the time when Rīgas ASK of the USSR League, won three straight European titles, in 1958, 1959, and 1960, no other team had won three in a row. And in the Final Four era, only two other teams besides Jugoplastika have been able to win even two consecutively (Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2004 and 2005, and Olympiacos in 2012, and 2013).

In 1991, the competition provided some big surprises, leading up to the Final Four at Paris. English club Kingston Kings of the British Basketball League, eliminated CSKA Moscow, and what is more, with a double victory, 93–77 at home and 72–74 in Moscow. German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen of the Basketball Bundesliga, made its debut in the third round, but the other faces were well known to everyone: FC Barcelona Banca Catalana ended first in that phase (11–3), POP 84 was second (9–5), and the other two Final Four teams would be Scavolini Pesaro and Maccabi Tel Aviv, tied at 8–6. Once again, the first team of the previous round did not get the title. In a rematch of the previous year's final – an occurrence that has not been repeated since – the team from Split won 70–65, almost identical to the 1990 score (72–67). Thanks to a great performance by Savić, who scored 27 points, Jugoplastika had an historic three–peat.

Seasons in Yugoslavia

Split participated in the Yugoslav First Basketball League from the 1964 season, until the breakup of Yugoslavia, in summer of 1991 (except for 1981–82 season, when the club was relegated to the 2nd-tier level Yugoslav 1. B Federal Basketball League).

Pos.	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91
1								1						1											1	1	1	1
2									2		2	2	2			2	2
3						3	3								3									3
4
5			5
6		6		6	6					6													6
7
8																				8
9	9
10																					10	10
11																		11
12
1B																			1

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria
To appear in this section a player must have either: Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Players at the NBA draft

^	Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Position	Player	Year	Round	Pick	Drafted by
PF/C	Dino Rađa^{^}	1989	2nd round	40th	Boston Celtics
SF/PF	Toni Kukoč^{^}	1990	2nd round	29th	Chicago Bulls
C	Žan Tabak	1991	2nd round	51st	Houston Rockets
C	Bruno Šundov	1998	2nd round	35th	Dallas Mavericks
PG/SG	Roko Ukić	2005	2nd round	41st	Toronto Raptors

Head coaches

References

^ "Company history | AD Plastik". www.adplastik.hr. Archived from the original on 2014-08-25.
^ "Pop84". Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
^ "FIBA.basketball". Retrieved 20 August 2019.

External links

Official website of KK Split (in Croatian)
KK Split at Eurobasket.com

[1] "Company history | AD Plastik". www.adplastik.hr. Archived from the original on 2014-08-25.

[2] "Pop84". Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-02-15.

[3] "FIBA.basketball". Retrieved 20 August 2019.

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