Zdenko BabiÃÂ (born c. 1960) is a retired Croatian basketball player. He is best known for scoring 144 points in a single game, a record in FIBA-sanctioned competition.
On 10 October 1985, Babiàscored 144 points playing for KK Zadar in a game of the 1985âÂÂ86 KoraàCup against APOEL B.C. of Cyprus. The first game of the two-legged tie between the two clubs had been won by KK Zadar with the score of 121âÂÂ40. This gave Zadar's coach Vlade ÃÂuroviàan idea of attempting to surpass the then-recent Yugoslav First League record of 112 points in a game, set by Draà ¾en PetroviÃÂ. He proposed this idea to Petar PopoviÃÂ, the club's top scorer, but he declined, and so did the other Zadar's leading players. BabiÃÂ, Zadar's sixth man, ultimately accepted the task of record-breaking. When the game started, the local crowd quickly realized what was going on and enthusiastically cheered Babiàon whenever he scored. He needed only 26 minutes to reach 113 points, ending with a total of 144. The game's final score was 192âÂÂ116.
Babiàwon the 1985âÂÂ86 Yugoslav Championship with KK Zadar. Later in his career, Babiàplayed with KK Gradine in Pula and Beauregard BC, with whom he won the Swiss Championship.