Andrej Stojakovic and father Peja share wholesome on-court moment Illinois fans must see

Emotions were understandably high after the Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes to advance to their first Final Four in over two decades.

That included the players, coaches, and fans all sharing an unbelievably special moment that they will all remember for the rest of their lives.

That was especially true for Andrej Stojakovic and his father, Peja, who shared a wholesome court-side moment that could truly be described as full-circle for both men.

Peja was an NBA player for two decades, winning the NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, when Andrej was just six years old. Now, he's secured an unbelievable accomplishment of his own, with his dad sitting in the stands this time around.

Andrej Stojakovic has been everything Brad Underwood has needed

While the younger Stojakovic may have lost his starting role earlier this season, he has played a critical role for the Illini while coming off the bench throughout the NCAA Tournament.

Against the Hawkeyes, Stojakovic came off the bench to contribute an astonishing 17 points, five rebounds, and one steal to Illinois's 12-point victory. Just one game earlier, he earned 13 points, two assists, and one steal in the Illini's win over Houston.

He has been as consistent as possible during Illinois's run through the Big Dance, and it's impossible to argue that his dad isn't infinitely proud of his son.

Three years ago, Stojakovic started his collegiate career with the Stanford Cardinal before transferring to play a season with the Cal Golden Bears. Then, during the last offseason, he announced he was transferring to Illinois, and excitement built around Underwood's elite transfer portal class.

Now, as Stojakovic and the rest of the Illini prepare for what's next (a Final Four matchup against the Duke Blue Devils or UConn Huskies), the opportunity for pride to blossom even more is pushing toward the surface.