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After Infoplus published the information that the former Turkish national basketball player Asim Paščanović, known as Pars, was found dead in the family house in Tojšići, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the MUP of the Tuzla Canton also reacted.
Today, around 10:40 a.m., the Kalesija Police Station received a report that A.P., born in 1974, committed suicide in Tojšići, Kalesija municipality. According to the report, the police officers of the Kalesija Police Department acted, who confirmed the allegations of the report. Death of A.P. stated the doctor of the Kalesija Health Center.
A large number of friends and family were shocked by the death of this great basketball player, who marked an era of basketball in Turkey. His influence and talent were recognized not only in his home country but also across Europe and even the world.
Paščanović was born in Kalesija and began his basketball career in 1992 with Tuzla's Sloboda. However, due to the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he moved to Turkey, where he changed his surname to Pars and became a true basketball legend.
For years, he was regarded as one of the best jumpers in Europe, and because of his great performances, he received a call-up to the Turkish national team, with which he won a silver medal at the European Championship in 2001.
He served as a councilor in the Kalesija Municipal Council representing the Party of Democratic Action and was one of the initiators of many activities promoting basketball in Kalesija since his return from Turkey.
Asim Pars was also known for frequently criticizing the authorities and talking about societal issues. This courage earned him respect and admiration from many people.
Asim Pars' career
In his long career, Pars played for Sloboda from Tuzla, where he began his career in 1992, before moving to Turkey to join Galatasaray. His biography includes many clubs such as KK Zagreb, Tuborg, Fenerbahçe, Efes Pilsen, Dynamo Moscow, Lokomotiv Rostov, Turk Telekom, and several others. He was known as a great basketball player, someone who always gave his all, and was a crucial part of the Turkish team.
Asim Pars Paščanović highlighted in a 2017 interview with Al Jazeera the importance of creating a better living environment in our communities, emphasizing that this can be achieved without significant investment. He believes that paying more attention to the cleanliness of our surroundings could greatly enhance our quality of life. His active involvement in addressing local issues reflects his commitment to improving his hometown, where he began his basketball career.
Reflecting on his early passions, he mentioned that his first love was football, as he grew up near the Sloga stadium in Tojšići (Bosnia and Herzegovina) which also had a basketball court nearby. However, after experiencing a growth spurt during his teenage years, he shifted his focus to basketball, especially when he enrolled in a high school in Tuzla known for its basketball program. At Sloboda, under the guidance of his first coach Mirsad Hodžić, he began training seriously, progressing from cadets to juniors and achieving significant success along the way.
Asim Pars Paščanović reflected seven years ago on his impressive career, stressing that he was a four-time champion in Turkey and played 120 matches for the national team. However, he considers winning the silver medal at EuroBasket 2001 in Istanbul to be his greatest achievement, especially because the team faced the Yugoslavian national team in the final.
He emphasized that the semifinal match against Germany holds a special place in his heart, as they triumphed over the favored Germans in the final moments of the game. This victory elevated them to the status of national heroes, with celebrations erupting everywhere, including buildings and homes adorned with flowers.
He described those moments and his amazing performances in the national jersey as unforgettable. Additionally, he mentioned that the team finished eighth at the World Championship in Indianapolis, putting an accent the substantial growth of Turkish basketball at both club and national levels.
Asim Pars Paščanović talked about what he considers his biggest mistake in his career. After winning the Turkish championship with Ulkerspor in 1998, he had registered for the draft with the Houston Rockets. However, by signing a contract with Tofas, he was unable to participate in the summer NBA league, which meant that his long-held dream of playing in the NBA did not come to fruition.
Asim Pars did not achieve his dream of playing in NBA, but he achieved a lot in his career and showed that he is an admirable basketball player. Everything he has achieved in his career is impressive, and it is certain that many will remember him fondly.
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