Peja Stojaković

Quick Facts

Full Name Predrag Stojaković
Date of Birth June 9, 1977
Birth Place Slavonska Požega, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Nick Name Peja
Religion Unknown
Nationality Greek / Serbian
Ethnicity Serb
Zodiac Sign  Gemini
Age 45 years old
Height 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
Weight 229 lb (104 kg)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Dark Brown
Build Athletic
Father’s Name Miodrag Stojaković
Mother’s Name Branka Stojaković
Siblings A brother, Nenad Stojaković
Education Not Available
Marital Status Married
Wife  Aleka Kamila (m. 2006)
Kids A son named Andrej Stojakovic and a daughter Mila Stojakovic
Profession Former basketball player
The current director of player personnel
Position  Small forward
NBA Draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Affiliations 
  • Crvena Zvezda
  • PAOK
  • Sacramento Kings
  • Indiana Pacers
  • New Orleans Hornets
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Dallas Mavericks
Active Years 1992–2011
Net Worth $45 million
Social Media InstagramTwitter
Merch Lego
Last Update  September, 2022

Predrag Stojakovi, better known by his stage name Peja, is one of the greatest former European basketball players ever. He had a playing career that lasted almost two decades in the NBA and was well-known for his collection of records and titles.

Peja is a well-known director of personnel development for the National Basketball Association’s Sacramento Kings (NBA). Prior to that, he served as the general assistant manager and a professional basketball executive.

What is the Physical Measurement of Peja?

Peja Stojaković has a toned physique and an athletically developed thin figure. He weighs 229 lb and stands at a height of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters) (104 kg).

Regarding his appearance, Peja is a fair-skinned man with jet-black hair and a sparse beard.

Childhood

Peja Stojaković, Peja’s full name, was born as a Gemini on June 9th, 1977. His parents, Miodrag and Branka Stojakovi, welcomed him into the world in Poega, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia.

Peja Stojaković has a sibling named Nenad Stojakovi and is not the only child of the family. He grew raised in the Papuk mountain range alongside his sibling.

Peja Stojaković with his family (Source: Instagram).

However, when the Yugoslav wars began, their family later relocated to Belgrade. Peja went to Thessaloniki, Greece, with his family in July 1993 when he was 16 years old.

Peja Stojaković father served in the Republic of Serbian Krajina’s military during the time. Mr. Miodrag remained in his native country and fought the Croatian Army there until 1995.

Peja spent his time in Greece becoming proficient in the language.

How did Peja Stojakovi Start Basketball Career?

Peja Stojaković started his career by participating in club team competitions. He initially signed up with the Crvena Zvezda, better known as Red Star Belgrade, when he was fifteen years old.

He gave the team two senior-level seasons of his time, and during that time, the team won the FR Yugoslav national championship. Peja later joined the Greek League team PAOK Thessaloniki after arriving in Greece at the age of 16.

He played for the group for four years, winning the Greek Cup in 1994–1955.

Sacramento Kings

Peja was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was selected by them as the 14th overall player in the first round. He did not, however, begin competing for the group until 1998.

Peja won the 2001 Most Improved Player Award after sitting out for two seasons.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and Indiana Pacers

Peja was dealt to the Indiana Pacers in 2006 after spending eight years with the Kings. He only spent one season with them, though, before being dealt once more to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

He played for the club for four seasons, setting new marks every year.

Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks

Peja joined the Toronto Raptors in November 2010 but only played for them for two months before switching to the Dallas Mavericks.

Before announcing his retirement, he played for Dallas for an entire season.

National Team

The FR Yugoslavia national basketball team was Peja’s first national team debut. He won the bronze medal with them in the 1999 FIBA EuroBasket.

After that, he took part in the 2001 FIBA EuroBasket once more and won the gold medal. He won MVP honors for the competition that same year, and the following year, Peja was named to the All-Tournament Team of the FIBA World Championship.

Retirement and Post Playing Career

Predrag Stojakovi made his official retirement announcement on December 19, 2011, capping off a successful career. Because of the persistent back and neck issues that frequently prevented him from playing, his career came to an end.

“IT’S A WAKE-UP CALL WHEN YOU START COMPETING AGAINST YOUR BODY MORE THAN YOU’RE PREPARING FOR THE ACTUAL GAME.” PREDRAG STOJAKOVI

Peja with Bobby Jackson (Source: Instagram).

Peja was hired as the Sacramento Kings’ director of player personnel and development more than three years after he officially retired.

Later, in 2018, he was appointed general assistant manager of the NBA Development League affiliate team of the Kings, the Stockton Kings. The group declared Peja had left the group in 2020.

Also Read About Sarunas J. Jackson

Injuries

Peja has experienced a number of injuries over the course of his career, but the back issue has been the most detrimental. He was injured in the 2006–07 season and missed thirteen games as a result.

Not to mention that the same injury was the only factor in the Hornets’ decision to trade him to the Raptors. Peja missed a total of 26 games during his two months with the Raptors due to an ailment.

Awards and Achievements

  • NBA champion (2011)
  • 3× NBA All-Star (2002–2004)
  • All-NBA Second Team (2004)
  • 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2002 and 2003)
  • FIBA EuroBasket MVP (2001)
  • FIBA EuroLeague Top Scorer (1998)
  • Greek Cup winner (1995)
  • Greek League MVP (1998)
  • 2× Greek All-Star Game MVP (1996 II, 1997)
  • 2× Mister Europa Player of the Year (2001 and 2002)
  • FIBA World Cup (2002 in Indianapolis – gold)
  • FIBA EuroBasket (bronze and gold)
  • Eurostar Player of the Year (2001)
  • FR Yugoslavian League Most Valuable Young Player (1993)

How was Networth Value of Peja Stojakovi?

Peja has a net worth of $45 million and a career income of almost $97,956,720, according to the sources.

He has also signed endorsement contracts with other well-known brands, including Reebok. He additionally collaborated with IOCC to support the Peja Stojakovic Children’s Foundation. They contributed almost $1 million in total here.

What is the Relationship Status of Peja Stojakovi?

Peja is a married father of two lovely children right now. His longtime partner Aleka Kamila is his wife.

Aleka, his wife, is a television personality and an actress. She is well known for her 2014 performance in the Greek movie Na I efkairia with Ola Paisoun, one of many of her works.

Peja with his wife (Source: Instagram).

Furthermore, Aleka was born in Greece, where the two first met. Not to mention, she has appeared on the covers of various Greek magazines.

Following several years of courting, the couple wed in 2006. They are parents of Mila Stojakovic, a daughter, and Andrej Stojakovic, a son. They currently reside in the Greek town of Glyfada.

Son, Andrej Stojakovic

Son is just like father! Peja Stojakovic’s son Andrej plays basketball for a college team right now. At the Jesuit High School in the Sacramento, California, area, he completed his high school education.

He began representing their squad and finished the season with 25.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Andrej now has twenty college offers, including several of the best basketball schools.

UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, UConn, Indiana, Louisville, Stanford, Texas, Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Washington State, and many more are among the schools that have made offers.

Andrej is now ranked eighth among players in California. He is also the 17th-ranked small forward in the 2023 class.

Social Media

If you want to see Predrag Stojakovi’s uploads and updates on social media, follow him there.

Predrag Stojakovi (@pedjastojakovic) has 43.2k followers on Instagram. Similar to this, he has 1.6k followers on Twitter under the handle Predrag Stojakovi (@PejaStojakovic).

Also Read About Sarunas J. Jackson