George Zidek
Encyclopedia
Jiří Zídek, Jr., generally referred to in English as George Zidek (born August 2, 1973, in Gottwaldov
, Czechoslovakia
(now Zlín
, Czech Republic
)), is a retired Czech professional basketball
player. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1995 NBA Draft
. Zidek played in 3 NBA seasons for the Hornets, Denver Nuggets
and Seattle SuperSonics
, averaging 3.4 ppg in his NBA career. He played collegiately at University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) and was the starting center
of their 1995 NCAA championship
team.
In 1998, he returned to Europe, joining former UCLA teammate Tyus Edney
on Lithuanian
power Žalgiris
. His first season back in Europe saw him lift the Euroleague
championship trophy with Žalgiris, becoming the first Czech ever to win the Euroleague title. Zidek's European career took him to several other teams before he returned to the Czech Republic, where he helped Nymburk to league titles in 2004 and 2005. He took the 2005-06 season off to recuperate from knee surgery, and served at the end of the season as a Euroleague TV
commentator for the Euroleague Final Four
, held in Prague
. Due to ongoing health problems, he however never returned and in 2006 he announced his retirement.
His father, Jiří Sr.
, was a star for USK Slavia Prague in the 1960s and 1970s, leading them to victory in the 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup
(one of the predecessors to today's Eurocup). The Zideks are the first (and as of 2010, the only) father and son ever to reach Euroleague
title games.
Zlín
Zlín , from 1949 to 1989 Gottwaldov , is a city in the Zlín Region, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic, on the Dřevnice River. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
(now Zlín
Zlín
Zlín , from 1949 to 1989 Gottwaldov , is a city in the Zlín Region, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic, on the Dřevnice River. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
)), is a retired Czech professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1995 NBA Draft
1995 NBA Draft
The 1995 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1995 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft for the two Canadian expansion teams, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies...
. Zidek played in 3 NBA seasons for the Hornets, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
and Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, averaging 3.4 ppg in his NBA career. He played collegiately at University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA) and was the starting center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
of their 1995 NCAA championship
1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,...
team.
In 1998, he returned to Europe, joining former UCLA teammate Tyus Edney
Tyus Edney
Tyus Dwayne Edney is an American professional basketball player. A point guard for UCLA from 1991–1995, Edney led the Bruins to the 1995 NCAA National Championship. He also led Žalgiris Kaunas to the 1999 Euroleague title...
on Lithuanian
Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga
The Lietuvos krepšinio lyga is Lithuania's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of 12 teams.- History :...
power Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
. His first season back in Europe saw him lift the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
championship trophy with Žalgiris, becoming the first Czech ever to win the Euroleague title. Zidek's European career took him to several other teams before he returned to the Czech Republic, where he helped Nymburk to league titles in 2004 and 2005. He took the 2005-06 season off to recuperate from knee surgery, and served at the end of the season as a Euroleague TV
Euroleague TV
The Euroleague TV is an internet specialty channel that covers the Euroleague Basketball League as its official broadcaster. The commentary is in English and the network is financially dependant on the Euroleague and ULEB....
commentator for the Euroleague Final Four
Euroleague 2005-06
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2005–2006 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries...
, held in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Due to ongoing health problems, he however never returned and in 2006 he announced his retirement.
His father, Jiří Sr.
Jiří Zídek Sr.
Jiří Zídek Sr. is a retired Czech basketball player. A talented center, he helped USK Slavia Prague make it all the way to the Euroleague final in 1966. He scored 22 points in the final to lead all scorers, but Simmenthal Milano stood in his way for the Euroleague crown, winning the game 77-72...
, was a star for USK Slavia Prague in the 1960s and 1970s, leading them to victory in the 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
(one of the predecessors to today's Eurocup). The Zideks are the first (and as of 2010, the only) father and son ever to reach Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
title games.