SOME children with famous parents find it helpful to distance themselves.

That isn’t the case with Andrej Stojakovic, who would love to follow in the footsteps of his father.

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Andrej Stojakovic is following in the footsteps of his famous fatherCredit: Getty

Stojakovic in action for the New Orleans Hornets in 2011Credit: Getty
The 19-year-old has been playing his basketball with Stanford for the last year, where he averaged 7.8 points per game.

The teenager also averaged 3.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

Stanford finished their season with a 14-18 record.

Coach Jerod Haase was fired after Stanford’s hopes in the Pac-12 tournament were ended by Washington State at the quarter-final stage.

Now he’s looking for a new team, with the aim of playing at March Madness in 2025.

And he couldn’t have a more inspirational figure to look up to.

His gather Petra played for over a decade in the NBA.

That time included eight years with the Sacramento Kings.

He made three All-Star games in a fine career, during which he averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Petra led Sacramento to the 2002 Western Conference finals.
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And late in his career came a crowning moment, when he was part of the Dallas Mavericks team that won the NBA title in 2011.

Dallas beat the Miami Heat to claim the ultimate glory in the sport.

And Andrej says he’s trying to take as much from his father as he can.

“I know some guys just don’t even want to be compared to their dads who played in the league,” Andrej said.

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Andrej in action for Stanford last monthCredit: Getty
“But I’d personally love to have as successful a career in the NBA as my dad did.

“I want it on my own, yeah, but I’m definitely gonna follow his blueprint to get it done.”

Andrej also says his father wants him to develop attributes he never had during his successful career.

“He wants me to add things to my game that he wasn’t as successful with,” Andrej said.

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“It’s just great to have my dad, a guy who’s been to the top, to be able to show me specifics every day about the best way to reach my ultimate goal.

“It’s such a big advantage for me, so I embrace it.”