Peja Stojakovic is a renowned director of human resources development and former basketball player associated with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. He was selected by the team as the 14th overall candidate in the 1996 NBA draft and later led the Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Championship title in 2011. He is also a three-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA Three-Point Shooter Champion, and two-time Mister European Player of the Year winner. Peja is also a two-time gold medalist for the Yugoslavian national basketball team.
The amazing basketball prodigy has officially retired from basketball in 2011; he currently serves as Director of Basketball Development for the NBA Sacramento Kings. He is married to a Greek model and a Greek actress named Aleka Kamila. Read on as we take you on a journey through Peia’s biography, family, career, height, and other interesting facts below.
Who is Peja Stojakovic?
Peja was born Predrag Stojakovic on June 9, 1977, as the son of Serbian parents Branka Stojakovic and her husband Miodrag. He was born in Pozega, SFR Yugoslavia, and grew up in Belgrade, Serbia. His father was an army veteran who fought during the Yugoslav wars from 1991 to 1999. There is no information about his childhood, siblings, or educational background.
He started playing basketball at a very young age and when he was fifteen years old he joined the Serbian basketball team KK Crvena Zvezda, with which he won a national championship title. The following year, he moved to Greece and played for the PAOK basketball club in the Greek league from 1993 to 1998.
ALSO READ: Who Is Mireille Enos Husband, Alan Ruck? Children, Parents, Height
Professional Career and Stats
While still playing in Greece, Peja was selected by the Sacramento Kings as their 14th choice during the 1996 NBA draft. During the 1998 lockout season, he was signed by the Kings. After joining the Kings, Peja played the first two seasons from the bench and finally made a breakthrough in 2001. He finished the season with an average of 5.9 rebounds and 20.4 points per game. He also became the second-best player of the year in 2001.
In the 2002 season, Peja finished the season with 21.2 points per game and was appointed to the NBA All-Star Team. He participated in the All-Star weekend with a three-point shootout, from which he emerged as the winner. The following season he averaged 19.2 points per game and also won the competition for the three-point shootout weekend. In 2004, he finished the season as the second-best scorer with an average of 24.2 points per game. He finished fourth in the season’s MVP voting list and was appointed to the second NBA All-Star team.
In 2006, Peja moved to the Indiana Pacers, where he ended his eight-year career with the Kings and signed with the New Orleans Hornets that same year. He signed a five-year contract with the team worth 64 million dollars. During his time with the Hornets, Peja created an NBA franchise history by becoming the first player to score 20 consecutive points in his first game. However, his impressive season was interrupted due to injury. The following year, he helped the Hornets win their first league title and finished second in the NBA Championship.
Alongside Jerryd Bayless, Peja traded with the Toronto Raptors in 2010. There he took part in a few games; due to an injury to his left knee, he was eliminated for the rest of the season. He later signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and led the team to the NBA championship title. In December 2011, Peja announced his resignation, citing injuries as the reason for his sudden resignation.
After his resignation, the NBA star was named Director of Basketball and Team Development by the Sacramento Kings in 2015. He also serves as general manager for the NBA Development League subsidiary Reno Bighorns.
Net Worth
Peja Stojakovic had a successful career and was one of the top players of his time. He played as a professional for five NBA teams, including the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors. He has made a lot of money with his basketball career and other business ventures. Currently, Peja has a substantial net worth of $45 million, while his salary and income from his employment with the Sacramento Kings are not available.
Family: Wife and Kids
Peja Stojakovic is married to a famous Greek model named Aleka Kamila, who is also an actress and television personality. Aleka is best known for her appearance in the Greek film Na I efkairia and Ola Paisoun in 2014, and Kamila, who was born and raised in Greece, has been on the cover of several Greek magazines.
ALSO READ: Clark Gregg Wife, Daughter, Age, Height, Other Facts
The couple met in Greece a few years ago when Peja played basketball for PAOK of the Greek League. After several years of successful relationships, they met at a small wedding in 2006. The former NBA star and his wife have two children – a son named Andrej Stojakovic and a daughter Mila Stojakovic. They currently live in Glyfada, Greece.
Height And Other Facts About Peja Stojakovic
Birth name: Predrag Stojakovic
Date of Birth: June 9, 1977
Birth sign: Gemini
Birth City: Slavonska Pozega, SR Croatia, SFR, Yugoslavia
Nationality: Serbian, Greek
Ethnicity: Serbian
Education: N/A
Profession: Former Professional Basketball Player
Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.06 m)
Weight: 104 kg (229 lbs)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Aleka Kamila (m. 2006)
Children: 2 (Andrej Stojakovic and Mila Stojakovic)
Net Worth: $45 million.
