He went out in a wheelchair

It turned out that the match against Panathinaikos was the last of his career, and he died on June 28, 2006, in Greece. He wore the Red Star T -shirt in 326 matches and recorded a total of 3,481 points.

Slobodan Boban Jankovic made his debut in the first team of Red Steaua Belgrade at almost 17 years old

BOBAN JANKOVIC / PHOTO: X

Jankovic was born on December 15, 1963, in Lucani. He has lived in Belgrade since the age of seven, and at almost 17 years old he made his debut for the first team of the Red Star, in the shirt that he played 326 matches in 12 seasons. It also went through all the national selections and was on the extended list of players for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, according to Sportal.blic.rs.

Where does the nickname “Guza” come from

Ranko Zeravica built a new team at Steaua Roșie and offered the young scorer in the senior team. As a player, he was characterized by physical strength, but he did not have an athletic constitution, seemed fuller and received the nickname Guza (bottom).

He was characterized by unpredictability in the game, he liked to have the ball in his hands and lived for decisive moments and throwing. He often surprised all the participants in the match with remote throwing. It had precision at a level with which few can boast today.

In his last season at the Red Star, he was the MVP of the Internal League, despite the fact that he had as rivals players from the Partisan generation, winner of the Champions Cup. Towards the end of his career, he went to Greece, where he played for Panionios under the guidance of Vlade Durovic. It became an important figure in the Greek team of first league, and then came the day of April 28, 1993, when, in a second, it changed its own life.

Video attention, harsh images! The fatal gesture of Slobodan Boban Jankovic

In 1993, Serbian Basketball Player Boban Jankovic, Angred by Referee's Call, Smashed His Head Intrete A post, Paralyzing Himself from the Neck Down. He Never Walked Again and Remained Wheelchair-Bound.pic.twitter.com/hfb43fvdej

– Harshit Gaur (@harshit_gaur_) September 10, 2025

Annoyed by a decision of the referees in a match against Panathinaikos, in the Greek play-off semifinals, at the 56:50 score, when he was not given a fault after a baskethe hit his head of the metal structure, injured his spine and remained immobilized in a life chair.

The same night, the doctors hardly saved his life, and in front of the hospital were over 6,000 fans in Greece, gathered in support for their favorite. After the tragic event in Greece, the decision was made that all the structures be covered with a layer of sponge to prevent the repetition of such incidents, thus changing the Bashcet game.

Then Boban's fight began for a place in society and for survival, a fight that lasted 13 years. In a second, his life changed completely, and the man who was unstoppable on the ground had to adapt to life in a wheelchair.

Boban Jankovic in wheelchair / photo: x

The tournament “All the friends of Boban”

The group of supporters of Olympiacos, “Gate 7”, organized a charitable tour and a match under the name “all the friends of Boban”, and the funds raised at this event were used for the treatment of the former basketball player.

And the Red Star helped through the actions initiated by the late Rajko Zizic, a great friend of Boban. He had great respect in all Greece, especially in Panionios, the club that fully accepted. Even today, fans sing songs dedicated to Boban, and the whole room is lined with its pictures.

Died on the way to Rodos

In 2006, in Greece, on the island of Rodos, at the age of 43, Slobodan died suddenly. Jankovic left on his last journey from Piraeus, and on the ship that was heading for Rodos, where he planned to spend his vacation, suffered a heart attack. The captain of the ship changed the course to the nearest island to help Jankovic, but it was already too late.

Slobodan was buried in the presence of thousands of people in Athens, including rival club fans.

Withdrawn t -shirtPanionios withdrew the t -shirt with number 8, which is still under the vaults of their room, as well as a large image with Boban's face, exhibited in the hall of this team.

His son was three years old when he was paralyzed

Vladimir Jankovic / Photo: Imago

Vladimir was three years old when his father made the decision that completely changed his life.

“It is a terrible burden to carry my father's name. I couldn't cope with pressure. When I had a bad day, I thought: Why do I know myself? I can't hide. I had to balance school, puberty, adolescence,” Vlado “Jankovic said in an interview for New York Times.

The New York Times journalist asked “Vlado” if he blames the referee who dictated that decision, Stelios Koukoulekidis, for his father's misfortune.

“I do not blame anyone apart from my father. He never talked about it. It's something I couldn't get out of him. Once I mentioned it. He just said,” A stupid reaction, stupid times, what can I do now? ” I agreed, ”the son of the basketball player said.

Vladimir, basketball player and he did not want to take the number 8 of his father, who had been withdrawn. “If I ever go to America, I will wear the number 28,” he said at the end of the interview. Boban was injured on April 28, and died on June 28, on the same day that Vlada scored 28 points for Panionios' juniors.