Damjan Rudež is a former professional basketball player from Zagreb, Croatia. Over his 18-year career, he played for 14 teams across seven countries, including the Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic in the NBA. As a member of the Croatian national team, he represented his country at major international tournaments, including the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing, the 2015 FIBA World Cup in Spain, and multiple European Championships and Mediterranean Games.
After retiring from professional basketball in 2021, Rudež transitioned into the business world, founding DR9 International Sports & Media, a sports consulting company. He is also the Director of the annual Sunset Sports Festival in Zadar, Croatia, and the co-founder and director of Astoria Productions, a Croatian production company specializing in sports documentary content.
Currently, he is pursuing further education at SDA Bocconi Business School in Milan and the University of Kinesiology in Zagreb, expanding his expertise in sports management and business.
