The former National Basketball Association (NBA) centre was admitted to a hospital in the Serbian capital Belgrade after complaining of feeling "strong pains in his stomach," according to doctors.

His life is not in danger, they added, though his exact health condition has not been specified.

The 46-year-old has headed the Olympic Committee of Serbia since 2009, and played in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings from 1989 to 2005.

He is one of only six in NBA history to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots.

Dragan Radovanovic, the head of the Olympic Committee's medical team who reportedly performed the surgery, said: "The operation was long and complex.

"Vlade Divac woke up and he is out of danger.

"We will continue to monitor his condition."

In January, Divac's father was killed in in a car crash.

Milenko Divac, 77, died in hospital after the car he was in struck a pole and overturned several times near the Serbian city of Čačak.